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Vacancies plague retail zones Downtown Windsor Ontario

January 27, 2010

A bad economy, big box stores and high municipal taxes in Windsor are combining to create vacancies in one in four city storefronts, a council report warns.

The citywide 2009 Business Improvement Area storefront report to city council this week showed the storefront vacancy rate jumped to 25 per cent in 2009 -- four per cent higher than 2008.

Small business owners say the economic downturn, the trend toward big box outlets, as well as high municipal taxes and utility costs have taken a toll.

"The big issue right now is the economy and keeping shoppers comfortable in the urban area," said Jake Rondot, chairman of the Walkerville BIA which had an 18 per cent vacancy rate in 2009.

Walkerville has held its own by providing an artsy mix of retail, offices and restaurants, he said.

"Each BIA has to be a perfect mix of everything from services, retail and culinary. They do feed off each other. If you are too dependent in one area, then you end up in trouble."

Landlords play a major role, he added...

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