Latest news with #SabrinaLemay
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New comic book shop on Bank Street helping to revitalize Centretown
Products on display at Nefarious Comics on Bank Street in Ottawa. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) A new shop in Centretown is giving comic book fans a place to connect, collect, and celebrate the art form they love, and it's helping to revitalize an area that has seen several business closures in recent years. Inside Nefarious Comics on Bank Street, owner Ryan Jordan has built more than just a store, he's built a community. 'I really wanted to give a community, a sense of belonging where you can come in, you can hang out, you can chat about your comics, your Pokémon cards, your Magic cards. You can come play cards at a table, grab a drink, listen to some music, and just connect with members of the community,' Jordan said. The shop is part of a wave of new additions to Bank Street. 'We are seeing businesses leave and new ones come in. This is just going to drive more traffic, more tourism, and even the aesthetic of the outside of that comic book shop is something to see,' said Sabrina Lemay, executive director of the Centretown BIA. Nefarious Comics Nefarious Comics, at the corner of Bank and James streets, is a new business helping to breathe new life into Centretown. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) Nefarious Comics opened about a month ago and is already popular among die-hard fans. Residents say places like this new comic book shop are good for the community. 'People putting in the effort into opening a store like this in a place that needs brick and mortar shops and jobs and work, yeah, it's really good for the community, I think,' said Dave Moncur, a comics fan. Luke Hodge, a comic and Pokémon collector, said he visits the shop almost daily. 'It's awesome. I honestly come in almost every day on my way to work,' Hodge said. 'I've been collecting since I was a kid. But I did stop for a little bit. And then once I saw the shop, I kind of got back into it. But Pokémon, I have been collecting for a couple of years now.' Fans say they love every aspect of the new spot. 'It's the art. It's the stories. The simplicity of it all and maybe just a little escapism,' said Jeff Taylor, a comic collector. Jordan says owning a shop was always the dream. 'When we were children collecting comic books, you're like, what do you want to be when you grow up? And like, I want to own a comic book store,' he said. Nefarious Comics A collection of rare comics, signed by legendary comic book creator Stan Lee, is the crown jewel of Nefarious Comics. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) The store's crown jewels are a collection of extremely rare comics, some worth a small fortune. One collection, with some issues signed by legendary comic book creator Stan Lee, is so valuable that it is kept off site in a safety deposit box.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City Council explores revitalizing Bank Street
Ottawa Watch Ottawa City Council is set to vote on a plan to give Bank Street a new look. Sabrina Lemay of the Centretown BIA joins us with more.
CBC
13-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
'Struggling' Bank Street could be in for a facelift
Social Sharing Storefronts along a struggling section of Bank Street in downtown Ottawa could soon be in for a facelift if city council approves a half-million-dollar improvement program aimed at revitalizing the area. If passed on June 25, the Centretown heritage facade improvement pilot program will draw $500,000 from existing funds over the next two years to help property owners restore and conserve their properties on Bank Street from Albert to Catherine streets, as well as a section of Somerset Street W. The project would span two conservation districts, and properties must meet certain criteria to qualify for funding. If approved, grants awarded under the pilot project will cover 75 per cent of a property owner's eligible costs, up to $75,000. Eligible upgrades include new signage, lighting and other additions that improve accessibility. Heritage conservation projects could also include upgrades such as structural improvements, restoration and repainting. 'Appearance matters' Earlier this week, staff told the city's built heritage committee the revitalization project is aimed at making the area more inviting, green, vibrant and safe for all. City staff said one of the pilot's key objectives is to encourage private investment in the area, which has deteriorated noticeably in recent years as businesses close and storefronts remain vacant. Sabrina Lemay, executive director of the Centretown Business Improvement Area (BIA), said while the area is home to some of the city's most beautiful heritage buildings, it has faced "unprecedented challenges" including the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have growing commercial vacancies and a shifting downtown dynamic that has left many businesses and property owners struggling to stay vibrant and visible," Lemay told the committee. Lemay said Bank Street currently has 30 empty storefronts, and attracting new tenants has been difficult. "Right now, people don't want to open businesses in Centretown," she said. "It's not creating a sense of community. It looks empty, it looks abandoned and feels unsafe." Lemay said the improvement program could help attract new residents, visitors and longer-term investment. "Facade improvements may sound cosmetic, but they have ripple effect and are profound," she said. "It increases pedestrian engagement, boosts foot traffic, instills pride in places and sends messages that Centretown is open, alive and worth investing in." 'A glimpse of hope' Jerome Duquette, owner of grocer Herb & Spice at Bank and Lewis streets, also welcomed the program. "It took them a long time, eh?" he joked over the phone. Duquette agreed the once-bustling shopping district has been decimated by the pandemic. Having something that's pretty on the street, it's inspiring for people, even if it's not much. - Jerome Duquette, Herb & Spice "There were a lot of people, families, workers, and it was very vibrant," he said. "[The pandemic] affected all the businesses on the street, and then people never really came back fully." Duquette said he has noticed an increase in homelessness and open drug use in the area. He said he and his co-owners think about moving "very often," but are staying put for now. If his business is eligible for the improvement project, Duquette said he hopes to improve the grocery's signage, lighting and brickwork. He described the project as a "glimpse of hope" for the beleaguered area.
