02-11-2019, 11:18 AM
Former Kitchener Budd’s building ‘fully rented’ as renos continue
Quote:Numerous construction delays, asbestos removal and “all sorts of problems” have thrown wrenches into the rehabilitation of 165 King St. W. in downtown Kitchener in recent months.
Last home to the former Budds men’s clothing store, which closed in 2016, the building has undergone a massive facelift over the past two years and counting since it was acquired by father-and-son investors Kamal and Jay Shah, the latter a well-known name in the downtown tech sector who saw big potential in the location, situated directly across from city hall.
While that potential is soon about to be realized — the space is already 100 per cent rented, though not yet fully finished — it probably would have made more sense, in retrospect, to tear the building down and start fresh, admitted Kamal Shah, who spoke to the Post recently, citing “all sorts of problems” since talking possession.
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“We’ll have tech offices on the third floor, second floor and part of the first floor, and there are two retail stores in the front,” Shah said.
One will be a financial institution and the other is a high-end bar, advertised as AOK Craft Beer and Arcade.
Steve Jenereaux, who started AOK along with partner Dani Stock, said he expected to move in last October, however delays pushed that timeline back to March.
"Our focus is craft beer and retro arcade gaming," he said in an email. "We will have 12 rotating craft beers and around 20 arcade machines to play, including a couple of consoles. Our goal is to create a fun, inclusive space for people of all ages and interests to enjoy retro arcade gaming and pinball."