I spent a lot of my youth at the mall. The new mall. Heritage Place Mall. The old mall in Owen Sound was not a cool place to hang out. Sure, it had the movie theatre where we’d line up for the Friday night flick with all the other preteens in town. But the Heritage Place on the East Side, you know past the driving range, across from Bonanza…that was a mall worth spending a Saturday afternoon at!
I bought my very first CD at Heritage Place: Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head. Still stands as one of the best purchases I ever made. I bought my hoodies and baggy jeans at Bluenotes. And a pocket full of quarters in those baggy jeans would last an afternoon at Wizard’s Castle.
I have fond memories of spending weekends in line to take my shot at the Bata Shoes employee who ruled the new Street Fighter console and was nearly impossible to beat. I wonder if he’s still dominating at the new iteration of Wizard’s Castle, the VR version? See they’ve just taken up some real estate back in the Heritage Place Mall, and guess what – they’re not the only ones moving in.
The Heritage Place is finding itself home to a group of new exciting businesses who are taking advantage of the opportunities that a mall offers: ample parking, shelter from the cold, and those comfy benches to rest on when you need a little break. I’ve spent some time on those benches myself over the years waiting for a partner to shop.
“Moving to the mall has benefited us tremendously,” says Michael Graham, who owns Wizard’s Castle with his partner Jessica. “The open storefront allows us to naturally engage with curious shoppers passing by throughout the day. At our previous location, the closed door created an unexpected barrier, making those spontaneous conversations much less frequent. With unlimited parking and a safe environment, the mall is a much better location for our customers. We say it all the time that we wish we had made the move to Heritage Place sooner!”
Wizard’s Castle joins Happy Earth, Upwards Art Studio, and Olga’s Café who have all recently taken up residency at the Heritage Place Mall. Joanna Aplin also moved her studio and gallery there a few years ago to much success.
Amelia Kramer, owner of Upwards Art Studio, was looking to expand her business and after searching for a spot in Owen Sound, she found that Heritage Place Mall was a great fit. “We have added more than 2000 sq ft between the store and the studio at our next space near Centre Court,” she says. “The store section is much more spacious and has an open feel making the shopping experience more relaxing. The larger space allows us to increase art programming through classes, community events, and workshops for kids, teens, and adults. We have also been able to add a consignment section that features handmade items from local artisans…and a community gallery where local artists and collectives can show their work. We are so grateful to be a part of a new and growing community of small businesses at Heritage Place!”
Within Upwards Art Studio is Herbert Pryke’s new non-profit venture Artcures that aims to make art accessible to everyone. “Artcures is all about uniting diverse communities through the shared language of art – fostering connection, dignity, and creative opportunities for people of all abilities,” says Pryke, who creates community art projects for everyone to join.
Kim Keskinen, who owns Happy Earth, only intended on doing one of the pop-ups that the Heritage Mall offers during the holiday season. She had moved her store online and was trying to promote the online offerings through a three-day pop-up.
“Over those three days I felt invigorated again by the response I had,” she says. “I saw so many old regulars who loved shopping in my old store and for whatever reason did not want to shop online. I also had such incredible feedback from people saying they wished that my business existed as a store front again.”
That experience prompted her to open a store full time to sell her sustainable and plastic-free products. “I put a post saying nothing other than the words, ‘I did a thing’ and me in front of the iconic blue doors here and that post blew up. I was amazed at how many people liked, shared and commented with genuine excitement,” she says.
She is right in the centre of the mall where Santa Claus takes up residency every December under the skylight. She would urge those who frequent the ‘anchor’ stores like Leon’s and Food Basics to wander through the rest of the mall if they haven’t been through lately. There’s lots of new stores to check out. It’s not all geared to shopping either. The mall hosts Good Life Fitness for those looking to get fit, Service Canada for those looking to get help with all the services they offer (a lot!). Like to get book recommendations from experienced readers? Coles has your back. Want a coffee and a treat? Check out Olga’s Café in the food court.
And here’s something you should know: you don’t need to be a Sport Chek or a Tip Top Tailor to open up shop at the Heritage Place; you just need a good business idea and three days to prove it. They accept pop-up businesses every holiday season with applications open every July/August. This holiday season is already booked up so get your applications in next July by contacting Meghan Switzer at heritagemarketing@groupesterling.com.
With all the holiday pop-ups and new businesses, I’m sure we’ll see you at the Heritage Place Mall this winter. I’ll be buying some bamboo toothbrushes from Happy Earth while I wait for my daughter’s art class at Upward’s. Maybe take a stroll through Sport Chek for some new hockey gear or find a good book at Coles. And maybe you’ll catch me playing a few video games in Wizard’s Castle like I used to. Feel free to come play a game or two. If you can beat me at any game they offer, I’ll buy you a coffee at Olga’s Café.
Written by Jesse Wilkinson
Photos supplied by Meghan Switzer, Kim Keskinen, Amelia Kramer and Olga’s Cafe, and Michael Graham
