The only F-word heard on the 700-block of Fort Street last Thursday, apart from the name of the street itself, was “fabulous.”
As local merchants creatively reminded us, the adjective describes a busy slice of the downtown core so many of us take for granted.
Eat on the Street, an event highlighted by four “parklets” where passersby could mingle, read, enjoy food or relax, certainly reflected that.
There was a palpable buzz in these sun-drenched urban oases not unlike those found in Portland and San Francisco.
Downtowners enthusiastically planted themselves in the inviting bright green and yellow wooden lawn chairs surrounded by polka-dot tables, colourful balloons and shrubs on the enclosed patios that temporarily replaced some parking spaces.
They included hundreds of hungry visitors who lined up outside Ali Baba Pizza at 775 Fort St. for free pizza slices— 842 in all — between noon and 2 p.m.
“It’s a way for us to pay back, and say thank you to the people who come in every day,” said owner George Murr.
Local artists and musicians entertained crowds, and Coastal Community Credit Union presented the Fort Street Business Association with a $10,000 grant from its Building Healthier Communities Fund.
Organizer Teri Hustins, owner of Oscar & Libby’s, said her team worked closely with the city and Downtown Victoria Business Association to pull off the event attended by Mayor Dean Fortin, councillor Lisa Helps and MP Murray Rankin. Their hope, she said, is to extend aging sidewalks and bring more public green spaces to the streetscape.
(Ironically, five minutes later, a businesswoman was spotted almost taking a header when her heel got caught in a sidewalk crack.)
“This is one of downtown’s most diverse streets,” Hustins observed. “We’ve got young businesses coming in, and some of the city’s oldest and most established ones here.”
Classic examples include Brown’s The Florist (est. 1912), Dutch Bakery (est. 1956) and Russell Books, which was established in Montreal in 1961 and opened its Victoria branch in 1991.
Signs of the block’s revitalization as a vibrant blend of old and new were clearly evident.
Renovations were underway on Tacofino’s new storefront operation (787 Fort St.) that will replace its popular food trucks here next month, and Fort Tectoria, The Victoria Advanced Technology Council’s new quarters that will house its startup accelerator centre at 777 Fort St., the historic 1912 building that once housed J&L Copy and Fax and other businesses.
“ViaTeC is bringing a whole new vibrancy with 125 people working weird, very different hours,” Hustins said. “The local food establishments will definitely benefit.”
Jason Sussman, who co-founded the original Tacofino in Tofino with Kaeli Robinsong, said opening their Fort Street location made sense.
“It’s a great area,” he said. “Everyone comes her for lunch and this way it allows us to keep our business going in the winter and employ our staff year-round.”
“If you build it, they will come, right?” added Robinsong, whose menu will include items from Tacofino’s Vancouver commissary and food truck favourites.
While the Dutch Bakery remains a popular institution, third-generation owner Michelle Byrne said local businesses downtown always need help.
“We want to do anything we can to promote downtown and remind people we’re here,” she said. “We’re all little businesses that aren’t part of the big American chains.”
Dave Archibald, owner of Street Level Espresso, wasn’t complaining about his instant outdoor seating.
“Having something to bring someone down to Fort street versus Uptown or wherever else is a great idea,” he said.
“People can enjoy it without even having to make a purchase.”