The event held for any/all downtown business owners on Thursday night was exceptional.
The Department of Unusual Certainties put on “Speed Dating for Store Owners” as part of their Storefront Residencies for Social Innovation project organized and conceptualized by Broken City Lab. This was just one section of a greater project of theirs called Storefront Success Stories. I’ve talk about this a few time recently because Broken City Lab brought over 25 applicants to Windsor with the sole purpose being to engage our downtown citizens in a unique way.
More pictures of the event here!
The speed-dating format (3 minutes, face-to-face, introduction, talking) was used to introduce business owners to each other. They (we) met at the corner of Park Street and Pelissier Street, under the parking garage. They talked about issues facing their businesses, and their neighbours. It was the first time I had met employees of Royal Bank, the owner of Visions of Canada (Paul), Peter Ramsey (prospective new business owner downtown), Anis from Downtown Cigar Shop, Pizza Pizza owner, and Rosemary from Christian Reading Room. Also in attendance (from memory) was Angelo from Milk Coffee Bar, Rino Bortolin and Shane Potvin (perspective new business owners), Kelly Ouellette of Slice of Style, Pina Ciotoli of Windsor Eats, Neil from Windsor Pride, Syed and Chardee of Drunkin’ Burrito, and Rochelle from the DWBIA.
Thirty minutes of face-time with unknown business owners…all of us with the common goal of making progress in the downtown. We got to hear each others concerns. And the prime issue brought fourth seemed to be (no surprise) the lack of awareness of all the great things happening downtown, and how to solve this issue.
Overall, it was the exact number of participants that the organizers hoped to draw out to this event. But in reality, with invitations going to many, many operating businesses with storefronts on ground level…I continue to struggle with the owners that did not take advantage of HEARING (not being heard) some of the concerns of OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS. This icebreaker was free, with free food from Drunkin’ Burrito, lovely lemon water and peppermint sun tea. It was a one-hour commitment, with the option to stay for a second hour. My hopes are that this happens again (organized by the business owners or the DWBIA), and that new faces appear. This event was wonderful to be a part of, and I’m thrilled to have met these other hard-working business owners that I never knew before Thursday.
AND PART TWO
Emily Colombo was in Windsor from Sault Ste Marie. Her project for Storefront Residencies for Social Innovation was increasing the quality of life quotient in downtown Windsor withMiss Em’s Friendly Services . She did this (and continues to do this) by offering free peppermint sun tea, and various crock-pots full of delicious food. I had sampled the tea the first day she was in Windsor. I was full from late lunch, so I missed out on the vegetarian chili she had made. But on a subsequent visit, she was located outside of the parking garage on the corner of Park and Pelissier. She was offering free gazpacho(cold tomato-based soup)! I was standing for a few moments, discussing her project when a stranger in the street said, “Are you selling gazpacho?”
When Richard eventually introduced himself, he emphasized that he had just seen someone making a gazpacho recipe on TV the night before. He had always wanted to try it, but since the show the night before, he was really interested. And here it was. For free. To make his quality of life better. Just in that moment. So Emily dished him out the last serving (glad I didn’t take it), and the conversation began. He explained that he lived in Victoria Park Place, and that he had a dog, and began speaking from a heartfelt place about his family. Emily learned more about him in five minutes than I’d learned about any downtown resident in five months of running the Downtown WO blog.
It was amazing to watch unfurl. I can easily say that I might be feeding people free food to get some stories from them in the near future. If you didn’t make your way over the Storefront Residencies for Social Innovation at the southeast corner of Park and Pelissier, you really missed out on meeting some of the best (most thoughtful and giving) visitors Windsor has ever had the pleasure of receiving.
Here’s some more photos of the exchange between Richard, Emily, and the gazpacho.
The set-up, outside of the parking garage stairs-entrance on Park and Pelissier
Where Richard lives.
Empty crock-pot.
Richard eating!
Both photos of Speed Dating for Store Owners pamphlets were lifted from Department of Unusual Certainties website. Thanks in advance!
Tags: broken city lab, Department of Unusual Certainties, gazpacho, Miss Em's Friendly Services, Storefront Residencies for Social Innovation, Storefront Success Stories
Left the event last night feeling inspired and hopeful. Can’t wait to continue the conversation.