http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1610/kensington2.png

Finally, I got a digital camera! I vowed that when that sweet day would arrive, I'd point my camera at Kensington Market.

So here I am... as can be seen from a few of the pics, I'm still trying to get use to my camera.

Anyway, a brief description of this ecclectic hood...

Kensington Market has always been a place for Toronto's immigrants. Back in the early 20th century, Jewish emigrants from Eastern Europe had moved in. Largely excluded from the mainstream retail life of the city, these emigrants drew on their tradition of open-air markets and set up stalls in the front, back and side yards of their houses. Up to the early 1950s, Kensington Market was the core of Toronto's Jewish community. Today, apart from two synagogues (one abandoned), and a few original fruit, meat and fish stalls, little would indicate the neighbourhood's Jewish past. New immigrants from Hungary, Romania, Italy, Portugal, and until fairly recently, China, Vietnam, Africa and the Caribbean (to name a few) have moved into the area. This mix has evolved into a colourful, lively, dynamic, and at the same time, intimate atmosphere that makes the market one of Toronto's most interesting neighbourhoods.

Kensington Market sits on the western fringes of Chinatown just west of Spadina roughly stretching to Bellevue Ave to the west, Dundas to the south and College to the north. I start off at Glen Baillie Place just off of Spadina, make my way to St. Andrews, down Kensington Ave to Dundas, then back up to Baldwin, then up and down Augusta... got that? Here's a map with the route:

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/747/map13.jpg

And awaaay we go...

back entrances to apartments that line Spadina
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/3612/kensington1.jpg

some rows on Glen Baillie... older:
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/5599/kensington41.jpg

... newer:
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/4604/kensington40.jpg

always busy restaurant on the corner of St. Andrews and Spadina
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7161/kensington3.jpg

this is on Kensington Ave. The lower part of the street is lined with vintage clothing shops... a hipster's paradise
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/4296/kensington4.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/9260/kensington5.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7793/kensington6.jpg

some rows on Fitzroy Terrace, a tiny side street
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/149/kensington7.jpg

back on Kensington
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/3176/kensington8.jpg

a typical old Toronto Victorian row with the finely angled peaked roof (yes, I mean the one on the left)
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/788/kensington9.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1237/kensington10.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7135/kensington12.jpg

a quick detour onto Kensington Place. A lot of these rows that sit on these backstreets are newish. I imagine that the ones that preceeded these were in such disrepair that they had to be demolished and replaced.
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/9107/kensington13.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/108/kensington15.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/6804/kensington16.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/610/kensington17.jpg

Baldwin St.
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/2795/kensington18.jpg

no Kensington Market thread is complete without the bubble blowing bear!
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/8006/kensington19.jpg

looking down Kensington from Baldwin
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/5966/kensington20.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7522/kensington21.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/2455/kensington22.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/5926/kensington23.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/9895/kensington24.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1016/kensington27.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1337/kensington28.jpg

the rest are taken on Augusta
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1999/kensington29.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/6382/kensington30.jpg

Bellevue Park, on the lower half of Augusta
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7192/kensington31.jpg

across the street from the park, Kensington's balcony poet...
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/3161/kensington32.jpg

an interesting mix...
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/899/kensington33.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/1561/kensington34.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7267/kensington35.jpg

http://img36.exs.cx/img36/7747/kensington36.jpg

Augusta from the north
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/9383/kensington37.jpg

this place serves awesome Jamaican iced tea
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/3334/kensington38.jpg

and finally from the top of Augusta Ave.
http://img36.exs.cx/img36/3584/kensington39.jpg



Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Where else can you go to a restaurant that serves up Thai and Hungarian?

Would this be considered a neighborhood? Officially?

Would this be considered a neighborhood? Officially?
I'm not sure I understand your question... do you mean as opposed to like a shopping district or something?

It's about as much a neighbourhood as you could get; the sense of community there is amazing. Often times when I walk around there and see tourists, they have this giddy, excited look to them (that's if they can see past the grit :) ). It truly is a special place and it's certainly defined by it's very diverse immigrant makeup. I wonder if a neighbourhood like this exists in other cities... only other city I could think of is possibly New York simply due to the amount of immigrants that New York gets.

My wife and I stayed in an apartment on Queen Street West, just east of the market, in 1998.

Really enjoyed ourselves.

"Would this be considered a neighborhood? Officially? "


What makes these things official??? LOL!!

Of course it's "official"....is SOHO "officially" a neighbourhood??????

It's also very obviously different than what's around it....physically and in it's atmosphere. That atmosphere has changed over more than a century, depending on what group had taken over the nabe....but it's always been a "different" place.

And what could be more official than having a tv series named after it???

But the one thing Kensington definetely does not have, is one of those BIA's....that is totally against the philosophy of the area. Even the idea of a chain store would cause major rebelion (and has before...and yes...the chain stores lose).







KGB

I didn't know that Kensington had a TV series.


But the one thing Kensington definetely does not have, is one of those BIA's....that is totally against the philosophy of the area. Even the idea of a chain store would cause major rebelion (and has before...and yes...the chain stores lose).
Actually, Loblaws' owned Freshmart is opening where Zimmerman's was... it's a damn shame. Even worse, they're trying to fit into the market by being artsy and "different" just so they can fit in... talk about insulting.

Actually, Loblaws' owned Freshmart is opening where Zimmerman's was... it's a damn shame. Even worse, they're trying to fit into the market by being artsy and "different" just so they can fit in... talk about insulting.

And it's causing quite the stink! Many are opposed to it and we should expect plenty of bad publicity when it opens.

There was that Nike owned store in Kensington a year or two ago and it closed quickly after people found out about its corporate owners. Talk about a wolf in sheeps' clothing!

Yeah but Freshmart has a big sign above it's doors... people know what's going on! Why would people wait for it to be done before causing a serious stir?

I'm not trying to imply that Kensington is going corporate, I just think that perhaps it's not doing enough to stop them. I mean, this is Loblaws! The same company that's opening up a store at MLG...

"I didn't know that Kensington had a TV series. "


You must be a youngster I guess. You mean you never even heard of King of Kensington?

Al Waxman starred in it. It was a fairly dumb sitcom...not bad for the era I guess. They have a lifesize stature of him in the park in Kensington.








"Actually, Loblaws' owned Freshmart is opening where Zimmerman's was... Yeah but Freshmart has a big sign above it's doors... people know what's going on! Why would people wait for it to be done before causing a serious stir? "


They have been....obviously you aren't excactly in the loop regarding Kensington. And from what I can tell, it's Zimmerman who will actually own the store...he's trying to explain to the nabe that it's just the same old guy running a gracery store just like he has for years...just some "new" products.

People don't seem to be buying it. And how long has it been since that place was first announced....should have been opened ages ago if everything were peachy keen.

And it wasn't just Nike and their "secret" store that tried to hide the fact it was a Nike store pretending to be an independent (that caused actual marches and vandalism)...even Second Cup gave it a go (and they are fairly acceptable to the artsy crowd)...they got run out as well.






KGB

from NOW magazine...


http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2004-11-04/news_story8-1.jpg
Reverend Billy calls for counter-invasion against big biz takeover of Kensington. Photo By Shannon Cochrane


Shoppers' Antichrist
BY MELISSA SHIFF

The congregation of the Church of Stop Shopping is lining up outside Xspace, the new OCAD-student-run gallery, waiting for services to begin. Hallelujah. As we step into the Kensington Market space, Reverend Billy, the New York City-based political preacher and performance artist, greets his flock with a warm handshake and a "Bless you, Sister. Bless you, Brother."

Soon he asks the congregants to raise their hands to the sky. He's not invoking Jesus, but the Multi-Gendered God Goddess Unknown Thing.

This isn't the first time I've seen the good Rev perform. My first encounter was at a NYC Dennis Kucinich fundraiser. There, the church's gospel choir rang out Amen-elujahs to his call to "take your hands off the Starbucks coffee." I was hooked.

In town for the biannual 7a*11d performance art festival, Reverend Billy (Bill Talen in another life) is shaking his bleached blond plume and shaking his hips to access the unknown powers that be. He's overcome, and falls in an evangelical fit. We laugh but soon become serious.

He tells us we have work to do – to direct our attention to the demons of big business encroaching upon "the commons," threatening its very survival.

Protecting public space and the local is sacred, he tells us. "A commons is where something unexpected happens, it's where we share stories, where we gossip, where we lie." Unless we intervene, he warns, our shared space will be transformed into multi-transnational malls that are both policed and privatized.

And this is not just a matter of losing unique, arty shops. We will be losing Main Street, the public thoroughfare where we can speak freely in the voice of democracy and against the corporatocracy.

"We definitely need to walk out of that whiney, lefty progressive critiquing,'' he says. "We have to say, 'Yes, let's do it. ''' And so we do!

The flock follows him down Augusta to the new Freshmart, which is going to sell the products of President's Choice, owned by food giant Loblaws. We get down on our knees to pray and, lo and behold, the doors open.

It must be divine intervention. Owner Martin Zimmerman opens his doors to about 150 people on their knees, whereupon Reverend Billy rises up and we rise up. Some of us follow him as he makes his way across the threshold, from public space into private space, thereby enacting Billy's belief that trespassing is at the root of all revolutionary action.

In the store there's no looting or violence, no destruction at all. Instead, an exasperated Zimmerman speaks in defence of his family business, telling us of its 50-year history in the Market, and we all listen. The congregants let him have his say for a while but then start to ask questions.

"Isn't it true that you've signed a contract with President's Choice and that you'll have to follow its pricing?" He responds, "Yes. What's wrong with giving my customers affordable prices?"

Someone else offers that "this attracts customers away from the small stores and ultimately puts them out of business."

Earlier that evening, Reverend Billy said from the pulpit that it was necessary to mobilize a counter-invasion against the takeover of places like Kensington Market, and that we need to move beyond art, hipness and critique to achieve this end. But it takes the power of performance art to generate this public exchange.

When Zimmerman suggests we move the discussion back onto the street, we agree. What are we doing but sanctifying the very commons that Reverend Billy is trying so hard to save?

news@nowtoronto.com

NOW | NOV 4 - 10, 2004 | VOL. 24 NO. 10

^ pretty cool article

I can't believe this bullshit about Freshmart. I adore the simple, privately onwed markets. Usually the prices are quite reasonable, and even if something is more expensive I take pleasure knowing that my money is going to the person working at the counter instead of some faceless corporation. I really hope Kensington can drive Loblaws out of there, but I fear this is only the beginning.

Well, isn't this still a private store owned by a long-time Kensington proprietor?

Just because the store will be selling PC products doesn't make it a Loblaws? Or is this some kind of franchise store?

In any case, this will sink or swim on the whims of the people of Kensington...not only will they make a big stink about it, they won't shop their.

And that is the secret to the non-gentrification of Kensington...their uncanny ability to create a "cool" neighbourhood that manages to stave off any attempts at gentrification by remaining the "wrong" demographic to any corporate way of thinking. Not only will the "does not compute" sign turn up on the corporate computer that gets fed demographic info...they have managed to create a critical mass of a well-known buzz of public knowledge that it will fight it at any cost. This creates a built-in bad publicity wrap for any corporate entity to the point they wouldn't find it worth even trying...and with an actual track record to prove they will be in a battle they don't want to get into (Nike, Second Cup).

This has worked in other nabes too....look how fast Starbucks disappeared out of the Annex when the whole Dooneys story got press. They had to wait a long time for the thing to die down before they finally found another location to open.






KGB

December 25, 2005

I would like to introduce myself to the readers of this web site. My name is Martin Zimmerman, I am the owner of Zimmerman's Freshmart.

It is sad when people jump to conclusions before they know all the facts.
My family started in Kensington market over 50 years ago. My father had his first grocery store at 200 Baldwin St. 1952.

As the business grew we moved around the corner to Augusta Ave. The Zimmerman's are one of the longest established family businesses in Kensington Market.

The renovation of the store and the addition of Freshmart to the family name in no way makes my store a corporate store owned by Loblaw's.

By carrying products such as President's Choice and No-name makes my store no different then any other store in Kensington Market !
All the local fruit merchants carry corporate products such as Sunkist Oranges, Dole Pineapples, and Chiquita Bananas, and other local restaurants and bars sell Labatts Blue, Molson's and Coke. The only difference between my store and every one else is that my family has operated a business in Kensington Market longer than any one else.

I have personally been involved in all the community issues in Kensington Market for over 20 years, and I know how sensitive the community is to the gentrification of the area, and I am the last person who encourage such a change. I grew up in Kensington Market and it is my goal to maintain the multicultural flair of the area.

If any body still has any concerns please feel to visit me at the store, I will be more than happy to answer your questions.

Sorry to rain on other people's parade, but I have to say that Kensington looks somewhat dirty and ramshackle. The nabe needs to be renovated and cleaned up.

^ without living here, I don't think you can understand what Kensington atmosphere is... It's one of the most lived-in areas of the city, and the atmosphere and the attitude it creates is what makes it incredible. It's not meant to be a looker street (in the traditional sense, that is)... And it better not gentrify.

"I have to say that Kensington looks somewhat dirty and ramshackle. "


In a simplistic way...it is.






"The nabe needs to be renovated and cleaned up."

Never happen...if it did, the place would not be the same place. Every hole in the wall is very well loved for being that way, and the place works hard to stay that way. Trust me...Toronto is full of gentrification...this place stays ungentrified by a lot of effort by it's inhabitants and devotees. It's easily one of the collest nabes in NA.










Nike Loses Kensington Marketing War
Maquila Network Update, September 2002.

When Nike moved into Toronto's Kensington Market, a vibrant neighbourhood of alternative youth culture, they should have known they would have a fight on their hands.

Shortly after the Nike Presto showroom opened, local graffiti artists let Nike know it wasn't welcome by tagging buildings and mailboxes with messages like, "Nike = sweatshops = get lost." A pair of sneakers, dripping with red paint, appeared overnight hanging from the Presto sign.

The battle culminated when local youth, together with the Maquila Solidarity Network and UNITE, organized an anti-Nike street party and counter-concert to protest the company's sweatshop labour practices and infiltration of the Kensington Market.

Staged on a balcony three doors down from Presto, the concert opened with the local break-dancing crew SheBang! B-Girls. Before a crowd of over 300 people, electronic artists mixed beats between speeches by MSN, UNITE, city counsellor Olivia Chow, local author Jim Munroe and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The street was shut down for two hours as youth danced, partied and chanted "Nike go home!"

Presto comes to Kensington

When Nike decided to market their new "Presto" sneakers to an alternative, "indie youth" crowd, they must have known it would be a tough sell. To reach the target market, Nike opened a music venue called Presto in the Kensington Market in June.

They hired a youth marketing firm to book local alternative bands that were encouraged to wear Nike's new Presto sneakers during their shows. "Wardrobe Guidelines" in the bands' contracts explicitly forbade the wearing of any logos of Nike's competitors. Bar staff were issued Nike shoes and apparel, and a display of Presto gear went up on the wall.

In line with Nike’s stealth marketing strategy, the familiar swoosh was nowhere to be seen on the club sign or outer wall. Many residents had no idea it was a Nike marketing project until they walked through the door and saw the sneaker display on the wall and all the staff wearing Nikes. But it didn't take long for opposition to grow against this attempt to infiltrate the local indie arts community.

Oppresto the counter-concert

Members of Future Rhetoric, a collective of local electronic artists and DJs, had been invited to play at Presto. When they learned they were being used to market Presto sneakers, they immediately pulled out and decided to organize a counter-concert and street party called Oppresto, with the help of MSN.

“I was offended,” says collective member and concert organizer, Rod Caballero. “The concept of an all-ages arts venue funded by Nike was just plain fake. And the fact that it was funded by a corporation with such an atrocious record of abuses worldwide made the concept even more disgusting. For me, organizing Oppresto was my way of saying to Presto, I ain't buying it-- both figuratively and literally.”

As Nike’s marketing project comes to a close in the streets of Toronto, Caballero feels Oppresto’s message to the sportswear giant was loud and clear. “Why not use the money spent on such elaborate and absurd marketing campaigns for fair wages for sweatshop employees around the world? Sooner or later, Nike is going to realize that is the 'coolest' thing they could ever do.”

I guess the place can really grow on you - kind of like a fungus. ;)

I stayed at that shite hostel you can see in the last pic at the end of June. I had a blast in TO though, and I loved Kensington Market.

I was driving from Chicago to NYC and had a couple of free days so I went up to Toronto, having no idea what to expect. I got to experience the joy of the 401 at rush hour. Portugal had just won against England in UEFA and there was much celebrating in the neighborhood, which I found a bit odd because I thought I was in Chinatown.

That neighborhood is part of what made me really want to come back to TO- that city seems so much more unsegregated (economically and ethnically) than any other city that I've been to.

that place looks great. Really a big plus in my book for TO. I like the first pic, with the little white kid wearing the Jamacian hat.

December 25, 2005

I would like to introduce myself to the readers of this web site. My name is Martin Zimmerman, I am the owner of Zimmerman's Freshmart.

It is sad when people jump to conclusions before they know all the facts.
My family started in Kensington market over 50 years ago. My father had his first grocery store at 200 Baldwin St. 1952.

As the business grew we moved around the corner to Augusta Ave. The Zimmerman's are one of the longest established family businesses in Kensington Market.

The renovation of the store and the addition of Freshmart to the family name in no way makes my store a corporate store owned by Loblaw's.

By carrying products such as President's Choice and No-name makes my store no different then any other store in Kensington Market !
All the local fruit merchants carry corporate products such as Sunkist Oranges, Dole Pineapples, and Chiquita Bananas, and other local restaurants and bars sell Labatts Blue, Molson's and Coke. The only difference between my store and every one else is that my family has operated a business in Kensington Market longer than any one else.

I have personally been involved in all the community issues in Kensington Market for over 20 years, and I know how sensitive the community is to the gentrification of the area, and I am the last person who encourage such a change. I grew up in Kensington Market and it is my goal to maintain the multicultural flair of the area.

If any body still has any concerns please feel to visit me at the store, I will be more than happy to answer your questions.

all the power to you... when does your new store open? I work just around the corner...

But for someone who has been there so long, I don't understand why you wouldn't realize that the cashe of Kensington pivots on it's non-conformaty, non-branding, individualist, rebel, bohemian, etc, etc nature.

So why a business person would want to shoot themselves in the foot by trying to change the face of a community that the community depends on for it's success doesn't make any sense. And if anybody claims to understand the community, it also makes no sense why they would "wonder" what the problem is. It's pretty obvious to anyone there would be a problem with it.

Go ahead and sell PC products....just don't turn the whole store into a big corporate brand. Although, common sense tells me that people who want to shop at loblaws go to a Loblaws store...and people go to Kensington for a completely different experience.

It's no different than if Tom's Place decided to become a GAP store, or Moonbeam decided to become a Second Cup.....saying it's the same guy behind the door doesn't matter...it's the promotion of the "Big Corporation" that risks the future of the nabe.

Kensington will probably lose the battle to gentrification eventually...and it will happen in this manner...bit by bit, it will be chipped away by turning it into a corporate haven, and the people who love it will just have to move somewhere else. To be honest, I admire Kensington for holding on for so long as it is.






KGB

The gentrification of Kensington is truly one of my worst nightmares for this city.

My family started in Kensington market over 50 years ago. My father had his first grocery store at 200 Baldwin St. 1952.
Is this some sort of justification? It doesn't matter if your grandfather was the first merchant back at the turn of the century... for the health of the market today, it means almost nothing. The neighbourhood is much bigger than any one merchant or family.

This may be a simplistic argument but god forbid your store does well selling those products, other businesses may hurt and close down or even decide to sell the same products in order to keep up. Just like how you listed the corporate products that found their way into the market, this may create the same situation albeit at a much larger scale. Seriously, why even risk that? Why even create such a possibility?

Deep down, I imagine that this desicion simply cannot sit well with you. Anyway, I'm not going to rant on and try and guilt you or something but I just can't respect your desicion at all. Like algonquin, I too work near the market (Kensington Clinic) and shop there nearly everyday and nothing would make me happier than to see your store fail. That may sound harsh, but you're dealing with something much larger than you seem to realize.

...

This may be a simplistic argument but god forbid your store does well selling those products, other businesses may hurt and close down or even decide to sell the same products in order to keep up. Just like how you listed the corporate products that found their way into the market, this may create the same situation albeit at a much larger scale. Seriously, why even risk that? Why even create such a possibility?

Huh???
So, what's wrong if a competitor sets up an agreement with Unico and sticks a big Unico (Or Primo, heck- Mac's Milk) sign in front? You've got a problem with competition? You got a problem with better products at a cheaper prices?
What's wrong with t a retailer having a shelf- space agreement, or an exclusivity agreement, so that prices go down?

Let's assume that the merchants in Kensington Market aren't a bunch of dunderheads, and that they are fully capable of competing.

Hey, Kensington Market will not turn into Yorkville any time soon. Further, any chain type stores are more likely to be on Spadina or College rather than on Augusta or Kensington..
In any an all circumstances, however, no harm can come to the consumer when merchants start fighting out!

^ nobody expects you to get it, silly.

Huh???
So, what's wrong if a competitor sets up an agreement with Unico and sticks a big Unico (Or Primo, heck- Mac's Milk) sign in front? You've got a problem with competition? You got a problem with better products at a cheaper prices?
What's wrong with t a retailer having a shelf- space agreement, or an exclusivity agreement, so that prices go down?

Let's assume that the merchants in Kensington Market aren't a bunch of dunderheads, and that they are fully capable of competing.

Hey, Kensington Market will not turn into Yorkville any time soon. Further, any chain type stores are more likely to be on Spadina or College rather than on Augusta or Kensington..
In any an all circumstances, however, no harm can come to the consumer when merchants start fighting out!

:lol: I have no comment other than I agree with Sal.

Of course I have no problem with competition, Are Be, but I believe that the market is not the right place to stage such a corporate pricing war. Don't you think that the existing merchants compete for business? As in all shopping areas, competition obviously exists. Also, don't you think there are enough neighbourhoods or shopping districts like queen west, for example, that have been basically taken over by HMV and Le Chateau? There is absolutely nothing wrong with these kinds of neighbourhoods but when a hood has staved off these kinds of trends and has kept a very grassroots community based approach, it should be protected and encouraged... not threatened by greedy merchants who think they're doing us all a favour.

Remember, the market is a community first and foremost.

I'm not sure a big chain would want to be in Kensington in the first place.
The place is kind of charming, but kind of dirty, too.
The store spaces are small.
We can all see why there won't be a Tim Hortons on Nassau street any time soon, and there won't be a MacDonalds at Augusta. But there is a Pizza Nova and a Burger King at the corner of College and Spadian.

POINT: Kensington is not Yorkville!
So one store gets a license or purchasing agreement with Freshmart, and a competitor does the same with Unico, and another with Primo. So? This will not change the nature of these stores. It's not like a Boss emporium, etc.

At worst, blow -your- brains out worst, is that there's a Kitchen Table in the area---is there not a Rabba at the end of Augusta at College? (OK, that's out of the market, but only a football toss away.

December 28, 2004

It's sad when people are narrow minded and wish ill will on others. As a store merchant in Kensington market I have seen the economic down turn that has effected the area . I know of at least two other stores in the area that will be closing their doors in the next two months.

My store will generate employment for the area, and don't be suprised if one of your neighbours end up working here. As to the ethnicity of the store at last count my staff speaks 8 different languages.

Over the years the Zimmerman's has strived to be different from all the other stores in Kensington Market in order to avoid competition. For a number of years my store was the only store in Kensington Market specialize in children's clothing. Today, Freshmart will be specializing in main stream grocery thereby having no influnence on all the other ethnic food stores in the market.

For years I listened to people complain that Kensington Market was great for speciality items however they had to leave the area and go up to the Dominion at Bloor and Spadina to get everything else. Freshmart will be filling that void.

My store should generate the same public attraction that European Market generates, and I can guarantee that customers that come to Freshmart will also visit the neighbouring stores. The Market needs a new venture to draw people to the area to generate new business so that all can benefit.

Hopefully my store will become a destination that will bring new faces to the market and breath some life back into the area. The last thing we need is to see more stores closing because customers find they can get a better selection elsewhere.

Finally, I challenge any one to find me one store in Kensington Market that doesn't carry some products that was manufactured or supplied by a corporation.

The important thing that we have to keep in mind is ,who the shop keeper is, not what he sells.

And again for the record Martin Zimmerman's Freshmart is not owned by Loblaws.

"It's sad when people are narrow minded and wish ill will on others."

Well, I guess it depends on ones perspective...he seems to be concerned about the very future of an entire neighbourhood....you are concerned about...yourself. Who's narrow minded?







"As a store merchant in Kensington market I have seen the economic down turn that has effected the area . I know of at least two other stores in the area that will be closing their doors in the next two months."


Hey...this is something EVERY retail area has to face. Some businesses succeed...some don't...that's life.







"My store will generate employment for the area"

That's the same lame excuse every business uses to gain acceptance. It's not good enough. Yea...let's kill the Market for a couple of jobs. LOL!!








"For years I listened to people complain that Kensington Market was great for speciality items however they had to leave the area and go up to the Dominion at Bloor and Spadina to get everything else. Freshmart will be filling that void."


Well, you have also been hearing people complain they don't want that kind of store as well.

There's nothing wrong with having a store in the market that sells "conventional" variety store merchandise...it doesn't fit into what the Market is all about, but as you say, sometimes people wouldn't mind having that kind of stuff handy.

But here's the kicker....I have absolutley no idea why you would be so insane as to market the place the way you have. I mean, you can have that stuff, but do it "Kensington" style...not be dumb enough to try to sell yourself as a corporate chain store...that's just plain stupid. Of course you will be considered the "devil". For someone who has been around there for so long...you should know better.

You couldn't have gone about it any worse than you have...and it is completely avoidable. If you had simply marketed the place as a funky, interesting store that has some unique, individual feel, then nobody cares about the products that might be inside.

Which begs a question....what has been taking so long....a small store like that can be set up and stocked in a weekend.....how long has it been in limbo...a year?????









"Hopefully my store will become a destination that will bring new faces to the market and breath some life back into the area. "


If you are going to continue to treat people like they are stupid, then don't expect it to make it any better.

Dude...let's get this straight...Kensington Market attracts because of it's unique vibe, flair, products.....a variety store you can find on any street corner anywhere in the city is not going to attract ANYBODY. Please don't try and pretend you are adding to what makes the Market a draw...if anything, you are helping to water it down.

And to suggest there is no "life" in the market, and a variety store will somehow add some, is so lame, I have no idea where your head is at.

Closing the streets to traffic on weekends is a great idea....not becoming one of those Disney BIA's is a great idea....throwing very unique and interesting festivals is a great idea....opening a "Freshmart is a stupid idea.











"Finally, I challenge any one to find me one store in Kensington Market that doesn't carry some products that was manufactured or supplied by a corporation."


You just don't get it...do you? Or is this just more of you treating people like that are stupid or something??









"And again for the record Martin Zimmerman's Freshmart is not owned by Loblaws."


Let me make this as simple as possible...is "Freshmart" representative of the "Big Corporation" or not? Right, it is. This might be a fine way to market yourself in Scarborough, but about the dumbest way possible to market yourself in Kensington.

So why would a business person purposely market a new business in the worst possible way?

It's not that anybody has anything against you....it's not even that anybody has anything against "Memories of Winnipeg" dipping sauce....it's about advertising the Market as a place of corporate mediocraty.






KGB

Overall I don't see a problem with Zimmerman offering PC and No Name products; there are people who live in the area who need to be catered to.

But adding the Freshmart name was a pretty bad move. I'd think you could offer a better selection without adding a corporate name to your store. That's just asking for opposition...

Would Primo or Unico get the same reaction?

Would Primo or Unico get the same reaction?

lol

Primo and Unico are just Italian food labels...they don't have stores and are not lifestyle branding vehicles at all.






KGB

Primo and Unico are just Italian food labels...they don't have stores and are not lifestyle branding vehicles at all.






KGB

They're definitely brands...and certainly appeal to a certain lifestyle and values. They're no different than any other brand.

Yea...a brand of food. Pretty much any product has a brand. Trying to equate a chain store opening in Kenington to a can of tomatoes with a label on it doesn't seem to make much sense to me.

Not what we are talking about dude...don't even know why we are wasting time on it.






KGB

December 29, 2004

An assumption has been made that I have treated people as quote" stupid or something". That's got to be the furthest from the truth. Can you please explain why during this summer during a festival (P.S. Kensington) in which I was one of the co-ordinators I held two town hall meetings in front of my store to address the communities concerns.I gave people alot more credit than you seem to suggest.

It was also suggested that "Freshmart is a representative of the big Corporation". Then I'm sure you can supply the readers a list of other "corporate" locations. As far as I know, unless you know better I am the only Freshmart in Toronto.

Again if any one has a problem with the store please don't hide behind this web site. I would be more than happy to talk to you. I have nothing to hide.

Yea...a brand of food. Pretty much any product has a brand. Trying to equate a chain store opening in Kenington to a can of tomatoes with a label on it doesn't seem to make much sense to me.

Not what we are talking about dude...don't even know why we are wasting time on it.






KGB

Obviously not...but they're really no different from any other brand. I don't have a problem with the store selling in demand Presidents Choice products, but putting a corporate brand on the store wasn't a good move.

"It was also suggested that "Freshmart is a representative of the big Corporation". "


Dude...Freshmart is a division of the Loblaws Companies Ltd.

And you were wondering about why I thought you were treating people as stupid??????? Com'on.

And Loblaws is controled by George Weston. And this kind of global mega-billionaire corporate crap has so many political implications that are in total conflict with the attitudes of the kensington crowd, that I have no idea why you continue to wonder what all the hub-bub is about.

Opening this store in Kensington makes about as much sense as Walmart wanting to open a store in Yorkville.

If you can't understand that, then I suggest it's time to move to the suburbs, where they will appreciate this kind of thing.








"Again if any one has a problem with the store please don't hide behind this web site."


HUH?????

Who's hiding? You are the one who googled your way to this site (I'm assuming you aren't a skyscraper fan). There just happened to be a discussion about Kensington where it was mentioned.

I'm begining to think this issue has turned you into a paranoid.









KGB

lets get specific here... (BTW I'm still sitting on the fence on this one)

the Zimmerman Freshmart is simply a franchise, no? In which case it isn't 'owned' by Loblaws at all, it will just carry noname and PC brands.

I can think of many little family owned grocery stores, in Toronto and elsewhere, that are franchises. Theres a nice place on Roncessvalles that comes to mind, but I can't remember its name. KGB you might know... its across from the Library.

Zimmerman is smart to embrace Loblaws merchandise... it will be an instant draw for alot of people. Is this 'gentrification'? It sure is. But if you want to blame him, how about blaming the developers behind the Kensington Lofts? I'll bet the new Freshmart will be a destination for the people who live there.

Gentrification doesn't have to take over anyways... if the community is strong enough, it will survive. Look at Chinatown, it's floated a McDonalds for awhile... that closed up, and is now a Tim Hortons. I know theres a big difference between Chinatown and Kensignton...

A bit of advice though for Zimmerman... downplay the 'Freshmart' branding as much as possible on the facade of your store. 'Zimmermans' should be larger. I know there are constrictions to what you can do with the design elements of a franchise, play with them as much as you can to get more Kensington, and less Westons. Rely on the subtleties of the branding to get the message across that, yes, you sell PC and NoName products. I don't have to tell you how sensitive people are to corporate intrusion...

Oh no, we can't have any of that.
We can't have any 'Al's Unico' or 'Fat Joe's Primo' stores! NO!
If there ever was an organized protest, it would be neat to see what kind of cars the loudest complainers drive : Jaguar? BMW? Land Rover SUV?. It would be neat to see how much their Forest Hill homes cost.

Like any good lefties, the women will be certain to have their 'anti-corporate' Prada purses with them.

You can tell Are Be has never set foot in the place.

Yea...I think I saw a Prada-decked Forest Hill wife toking a fat one in the back yard of the Hot Box. LOL!!!

Stick to what you know about Are Be. Well, ok...we wouldn't be hearing much from you if that were the case. he he







"Zimmerman is smart to embrace Loblaws merchandise... it will be an instant draw for alot of people."


Who?

Would people go to Kensington for Loblaws products....ah...no.

And the lofts there don't contain enough people to justify a customer base....and who says they are all PC fanatics?

Besides the giant corporate name not fitting the vibe of the nabe, it doesn't even describe the products...what's so "fresh" about PC products...it's either in a can, a box, or frozen.

And it's just a 5000 sqft store...hardly offering what a 30,000 - 50,000 sqft Loblaws could offer...so it's really not providing that service at all.








"A bit of advice though for Zimmerman... downplay the 'Freshmart' branding as much as possible on the facade of your store. 'Zimmermans' should be larger."


Little late for that. And it's also the sneaky nature by which some people have tried to "infiltrate" the place....I'm sure the whole Nike debacle is "fresh" in people's minds.







KGB

Would people go to Kensington for Loblaws products....ah...no.

And the lofts there don't contain enough people to justify a customer base....and who says they are all PC fanatics?

Besides the giant corporate name not fitting the vibe of the nabe, it doesn't even describe the products...what's so "fresh" about PC products...it's either in a can, a box, or frozen.

And it's just a 5000 sqft store...hardly offering what a 30,000 - 50,000 sqft Loblaws could offer...so it's really not providing that service at all.


KGB

I think people would. Besides, it's 'non-fresh' goods that comprise most corporate products.. I've never seen a noname head of lettuce.

So far, I'm equating this to a Home Hardware store. Home Hardware stores have the corporate logo, the branding and the marketing. Some of the merchandise bears the same branding, but not all. All Home Hardware stores are 100% dealer-owned... kind of like a co-op. I'm sure Pro Hardware is much the same, there's a Pro Hardware near Queen and Augusta.

Maybe I'm just playing the Devils Advocate on this one, but I wonder if all the fuss is overblown. Perhaps the key to a healthy, unique community is a balance between 'success' and failure, not simply a linear progression of profit? Look at it this way, at least Zimmermans isn't closing down. And we aren't talking about a big-box, product-dumping, under-selling monster here.

and who says they are all PC fanatics?

hey hey, who isn't? :) Have you seen some of the shit you can find in Zimmermans grocery aisle? Try to find a decent box of macaroni and cheese... you wouldn't beleive what passes off as food in there! :P

Which brings me to the point, don't the people who live around Kensignton deserve a little better? There are some things that you can't find in decent capacity in Kensington.

Another thing, I've noticed that some areas of Toronto are severely underserviced when it comes to grocery stores. When I lived in the east end of Parkdale, all there was was that shitty PriceChoppers at Dufferin.. yuck. Or my girlfriend, she used to live right near Yong and Dundas. Before the 'Gayminions' opened up, there was nothing. Pathetic! Grocery Rant!

"Which brings me to the point, don't the people who live around Kensignton deserve a little better? "


I think the point is that the people of Kensington already think they have it good, and don't want to see it get worse.

And that's not the point anyway...the point is why Kensington is what it is, and why letting that get eroded will start a trend that will change it.

Kensington totally depends on it's reputation as a completely unique area for it's draw...do you really think people coming to Toronto go back home and rave about the cool little variety store that sells PC goods? Don't think so.

You might think what harm would one store that represents big corporate products do. Because once it starts, more will follow. And the odd, various people that make up the Market crowd are extremely left leaning...they don't even like that Green Machine there....of course they are going to shit their pants over Loblaws. This is a pretty militant bunch.

And Kensington is not the only community that realizes that the uniqeness of their area is the draw, and they are fighting to keep it that way...it's the same in Roncy...and why do you think the owners of the Distillery went to great lengths to make sure no chain stores were allowed there?

And I'm still wondering why the store hasn't opened...it was supposed to open last June....money problems or has this political issue delayed it by six months?






KGB

Without getting too romantic, I think people have to understand that the market is an incredibly special and unique place in today's society... especially in NA. The fact that a long-time merchant is willing to damage that is beyond me. Zimmermans freshmart, do you not realize the implications of this? Do you not realize that there is a lot at stake here? There is a vastly larger picture here that you must consider.

What products will you be providing that people can't get from another merchant? Chips, Malaysian dipping sauce, pop, crackers, frozen pizza? Meat, bread, fish, fruits, snacks, and vegetables are very well covered. What's left? Toilet paper maybe. Will you be providing products that are essential to people every day or every other day? No, because if it was an essential everyday item, it would already be sold at the market. My point is that this store really isn't all that necessary. People need toilet paper and mustard but they could easily make the 10 or 15 minute trip to the Dominion on Bloor once a week.

Do the benefits of this store opening outweigh the costs? Hell no.

Lets talk about Roncy... do you know of the grocery store I mean? It's across from the Library, I assume it's family owned. It bears a 'brandname' on it's facade, I beleive it's one of the Dominion names. It's rather harmless.

Here's a different perspective... what if Zimmerman kept is old store as it is, but simply replaced his crappy non-perishable stock with NoName and PC products? Same store, different product. Then, one day, he changes his sign to read 'Zimmermans Freshmart'. It doesn't sound so bad putting it that way. All he's doing is just opening a new store.

Bloorminions is awful. It's the busiest grocery store on the face of the earth. I feel I lose part of my life essence everytime I go in there.

December 30, 2004

I can not understand why everyone is obsessed with the notion that this a Loblaws store. All the signage is up in the store and nowhere is there any reference to Loblaws.

My agreement for the supply of goods to the store is with National Grocers which probably supplies half of the small grocery and variety stores in Toronto.

Pc and No-name represent a small percentage of the stores total inventory. There are other stores in Toronto that carry the same lines ie. Kitchen Table, Hastymart, and Red and White .

I spent an entire year talking to the community listening to what is lacking in Kensington Market. It was suggested earlier that the community that lives in the Market should travel 10 to 15 minutes outside of the area to get toilet paper and mustard. Why can't the Market have it all ? Is it fair to ask people on a fixed income to have to spend money they don't have to take a cab to get basic needs elsewhere.

There was a question as to why it is taking so long to open "is it money problems or political issues". It is neither. The suggestion of a money issues is ridiculous especially if it was true that Loblaws that owned the store. Everyone knows that they have very deep pockets and money would be the last of their concerns. Since the issue of money was brought up I personally have mortgaged and risked every thing I own to build this store, there is no outside investment. I, Martin Zimmerman am the sole owner of the store.

The reason that the store is taking as long as it is to build is due to the fact that the entire building was gutted and renovated to bring it up to the current requirements as setout by the building and health departments. The equipment in the store is state of the art which will allow me of be more energy efficient and to maintain a level of cleanliness and freshness never seen before in Kensington Market. All I am trying to do is to offer the community a high level of service, quality and cleanliness which I am sure you will agree everyone rightly deserves.

As to the opening date it will be in the latter part of January 2005. It's just around the corner.

Again ,I invite anyone who has an issue to feel free to come and talk to me, I don't bite.

January 1, 2005

The following is a statement made earlier by KGB;

"But here's the kicker....I have absolutley no idea why you would be so insane as to market the place the way you have. I mean, you can have that stuff, but do it "Kensington" style...not be dumb enough to try to sell yourself as a corporate chain store...that's just plain stupid. Of course you will be considered the "devil". For someone who has been around there for so long...you should know better.

You couldn't have gone about it any worse than you have...and it is completely avoidable. If you had simply marketed the place as a funky, interesting store that has some unique, individual feel, then nobody cares about the products that might be inside."


The response is simple, I have never at any time ever suggested or implied that my store was a corporate store. It is people such as yourself who have been misdirected and ill informed and have jumped to the wrong conclusion before knowing the facts. I don't understand why you take issue with a private individual trying to make an honest living.

You also made a statement that" nobody cares about the products that might be inside." So what's the problem?

I hope that I have been able to put everybody's minds at ease.

As a member of the community I would like to wish you all seasons greetings

and

health , happiness and success in the year to come.

Martin Zimmerman

January 1, 2005

The following is a statement made earlier by KGB;

"But here's the kicker....I have absolutley no idea why you would be so insane as to market the place the way you have. I mean, you can have that stuff, but do it "Kensington" style...not be dumb enough to try to sell yourself as a corporate chain store...that's just plain stupid. Of course you will be considered the "devil". For someone who has been around there for so long...you should know better.

You couldn't have gone about it any worse than you have...and it is completely avoidable. If you had simply marketed the place as a funky, interesting store that has some unique, individual feel, then nobody cares about the products that might be inside."


The response is simple, I have never at any time ever suggested or implied that my store was a corporate store. It is people such as yourself who have been misdirected and ill informed and have jumped to the wrong conclusion before knowing the facts. I don't understand why you take issue with a private individual trying to make an honest living.

You also made a statement that" nobody cares about the products that might be inside." So what's the problem?

I hope that I have been able to put everybody's minds at ease.

As a member of the community I would like to wish you all seasons greetings

and

health , happiness and success in the year to come.

Martin Zimmerman


Happy New Year to you as well.

So are you saying that the only thing that will change with this store is the sale of PC goods? There will be no "Freshmart" signage or anything else like that?

"I can not understand why everyone is obsessed with the notion that this a Loblaws store. All the signage is up in the store and nowhere is there any reference to Loblaws."


Nobody said it was a Loblaws store. I get the impression you are either very naive...or still playing people for fools.

In any event...I find it very amusing how all this comotion is over the opening of a simple variety store...could you imagine this kind of thing happening anywhere else in the city? LOL!! Another quirky reason why I love Kensington.







"the entire building was gutted and renovated to bring it up to the current requirements as setout by the building and health departments. The equipment in the store is state of the art which will allow me of be more energy efficient and to maintain a level of cleanliness and freshness never seen before in Kensington Market. All I am trying to do is to offer the community a high level of service, quality and cleanliness which I am sure you will agree everyone rightly deserves."


This is another problem unrelated, but just as important....perhaps this sounds a little too slick for Kensington...the whole charm to the place is it's ramshackle, home-built kind of aestetic. Could you imagine an entire Kensington all decked out with a "state of the art" antiseptic look?

I'd rather see 12 Starbucks open there than that happening.






KGB

January 2, 2005


It is obvious that KGB has never seen the inside of my store. All the state of the art equipment is in the basement not visible to the public. It is there in order to maintain the highest level of hygiene possible.

It almost sounds that in order to maintain as KGB suggests " the whole charm of the place is it's ramshackle, home-built kind of aestetic," it sounds like he is suggesting that the store be unorganized and dirty.

I'm not prepared to put the public's health at risk.

As to the appearance of the store Spatulacity sums it up the best "they're trying to fit into the market by being artsy and "different" just so they can fit in...", isn't that what Kensington Market is all about?

If one looks at the photos of Kensington Market posted on this site you will find that the area flourishes with art and graffiti. Two of those local artists painted the mural in my store. The store is vibrant and full of colour. As to the ethnicity as I meantioned earlier my staff speaks eight different languages.

Kensington market is known as the ethnic melting pot of Toronto, what more can one do to fit in?

KGB stated that "Nobody said it was a Loblaws store."

He earlier stated that "You might think what harm would one store that represents big corporate products do. Because once it starts, more will follow.....of course they are going to shit their pants over Loblaws."

It seems quite obvious that KGB is suggesting my store is owned by Loblaws. It is unfair to malign my store when there is no bases to your accusations.

Again I state for the record that I, Martin Zimmerman own the store not Loblaws.

As mentioned earlier if any one has any questions please feel free and come talk to me.

"It seems quite obvious that KGB is suggesting my store is owned by Loblaws."


Dude...are you addicted to lieing...or just plain dumb????

I never said it was owned by Loblaws, because I never believed it was owned by Loblaws. Therefore...I AM NOT SUGGESTING IT IS OWNED BT LOBLAWS!!!!

Are you trying to tell us that Freshmart is not affiliated with Loblaws?

You are promoting your store by affiliating yourself with Loblaws by promoting it's name with using Freshmart, and by promoting the sale of it's products.

So please don't act suprised when the backlash comes from those who don't like it.

CAUSE YOU WENT RIGHT OUT AND ASKED FOR IT!!!

And a person with half a brain who simply wanted to open a variety store in Kensington Market would have stayed as far away as possible from affiliating themselves with Loblaws....or any other chain/big corporation.

And do you know why?

Because Kensington really is better off not having this kind of thing starting...it really is. It's quite important actually. Which is why you are getting a hard time.

The fact that you actually run around pretending you are "saving" the Market by opening your store is just adding insult to injury.





"I'm not prepared to put the public's health at risk."


Well, if you think the rest of the Market is just a big, filthy health risk, than maybe you should just open your store where nobody is going to hate you and appreciate your nice little sterile environment then.

Why waste time trying to do business where you are so clearly not wanted?






KGB

It's quite simple in the end: choosing to call it 'Freshmart' is like wanting to shoot yourself in the foot.

January 2, 2005.

I would like to thank KGB for finally acknowledging that Zimmerman's Freshmart is not a Corporation. I am a private individual opening grocery store. However,the name calling was unwarranted.

KGB "never said it was owned by Loblaws, because I never believed it was owned by Loblaws. Therefore...I AM NOT SUGGESTING IT IS OWNED BT LOBLAWS!!!! " again I thank you.

As to the affiliation of who my supplier of product is. I ask again, as I did earlier can anyone please find me a single store in Kensington Market that is not carrying products supplied by one corporation or another.

Because, if it's your mandate not to shop in a store that sells anything supplied by a corporation then you will have issues with every single store in Kensington Market .

salvius" It's quite simple in the end: choosing to call it 'Freshmart' is like wanting to shoot yourself in the foot."

I don't understand what's the problem with the word "Freshmart". If you open the Toronto telephone book I'm the only store by that name. Please also remember it's only a name, it's not like there are ten or twenty or even TWO other Freshmart's in Toronto.

As to the state and conditions of Kensington Market. It is KGB who made that comment, not I.

"this sounds a little too slick for Kensington...the whole charm to the place is it's ramshackle, home-built kind of aestetic. Could you imagine an entire Kensington all decked out with a "state of the art" antiseptic look? "

The opposite of antiseptic is unhygienic.

The suggestion by KGB that I think " the rest of the Market is just a big, filthy health risk" was implied by KGB not I.

I only responded to KGB's statement by saying "I'm not prepared to put the public's health at risk."

Finally "Why waste time trying to do business where you are so clearly not wanted?"

Please remember that he is but one voice.

As I have mentioned earlier I invite people to come and talk to me at the store. If you stood beside me you would be amazed at the thousands of people that have told me they can hardly wait for the store to open.

I'm sure that once the store is open you will see what Zimmerman's Freshmart is all about and you will reconsider your thoughts.

That's the beauty of living in a democracy. You have the right to choose.

My right to choose and open the store was based on voice of the majority of the community.

"I would like to thank KGB for finally acknowledging that Zimmerman's Freshmart is not a Corporation. I am a private individual opening grocery store."


What do you mean finally? In fact, if you look at the 10th post in this thread, you will find it was myself who pointed this out before your appearance in this thread.......


"And from what I can tell, it's Zimmerman who will actually own the store...he's trying to explain to the nabe that it's just the same old guy running a gracery store just like he has for years...just some "new" products."


So who's the one making the incorrect accusations??????








"Because, if it's your mandate not to shop in a store that sells anything supplied by a corporation then you will have issues with every single store in Kensington Market ."


Well, that isn't my "mandate" at all. It's about the retail marketing stratagy. You chose to market this new store to the public by attaching all the trappings of the Loblaws Corp to it. This goes directly against what makes the market tick. Why you thought this would be of benifit to you is a complete mystery to me.








"I don't understand what's the problem with the word "Freshmart"."


Yes you do...I'm sure you aren't that stupid...but I have no idea why you continue to pretend everybody else is by continuously spin-doctoring this. The gigs up...so give it up.

From the Loblaw.com website.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
" Loblaw Companies East (LCE) is responsible for the distribution and movement of product to all Loblaw Companies Limited (LCL) stores through its Distribution Centres. (National Grocers - NG - is the name formerly utilized for LCE.) Stores include:

• Loblaws
• Zehrs
• No Frills
• Your Independent Grocers
• Valumart
• Freshmart
• Fortino's
• Atlantic SaveEasy
• Atlantic Superstore
• Atlantic SuperValue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


If your store has no affiliation with Loblaws, then perhaps someone should contact their lawyers, as I'm sure the name "Freshmart" is trademarked?

So not only are you being harrassed for trying to turn the Market into bland stores promoting big corporations...you are going to be sued by the big corporations you are being harrassed for. Rather silly predicament to put yourself in dontcha think?

But of course we all know what's really going on...why continue to pretend you don't know it?








"The opposite of antiseptic is unhygienic."


The use of the word "antiseptic" was euphamistic. Surely you understand that?








"The suggestion by KGB that I think " the rest of the Market is just a big, filthy health risk" was implied by KGB not I. I only responded to KGB's statement by saying "I'm not prepared to put the public's health at risk."


Ah...but you were the one who feels anything less than the "state of the art", gutted and modern equiped store would be putting the public at risk. Does the rest of the Market resemble this? Of course not. In fact, people come to the Market for the very reason it is not like that. As far as I can tell, there are no people dieing after shopping or eating in the Market.

And it's not so much that anybody has anything against clean or modern surroundings...it's the attachment of the lame, boring, big corporate image attached to it.








"Please remember that he is but one voice. "


Everybody is only one voice...that doesn't make any sense. But you're the one facing all the backlash...you're on an internet skyscraper forum defending yourself...you're the one facing protests agaisnt the opening of your store in public and in the papers.

Something tells me it's not just little ole me out there.






"Kensington market is known as the ethnic melting pot of Toronto, what more can one do to fit in? "


Hey...the whole city is one big ethnic mix.

McDonalds is full of employees of different cultural backgrounds...as is any business. But this isn't the issue.








"That's the beauty of living in a democracy. You have the right to choose. My right to choose and open the store was based on voice of the majority of the community."


Well actually, as long as you abide by the law, you have the right to do anything you want.

But...let's remember what happened with the whole Dooneys/Starbucks thing in the Annex....let's not forget what happened with Nike in Kensington. Sometimes bad publicity can force people to change their minds regardless of where they stand "legally".


Again...I will state that I have no idea why anybody would be stupid enough to try and market themselves by going out of their way to attach the kind of image for which the area is diabolically opposed to.

If I wanted to open a store to sell groceries in the market, I would have gone as far away from that as humanly possible, and come with an idea that better fit the image and vibe of the Market.

Kensington has managed to stave off gentrification and remain unique to this point. In the future, when the place is lined with chain stores...people will look back and sya yea....that Zimmerman guy was one of those who pioneered the destruction of what was once one of the coolest nabes in North America, and a special part of Toronto.

Because it was his right to make sure President's Choice products are available to everyone.


RIP Kensington Market.









KGB








KGB

As to the appearance of the store Spatulacity sums it up the best "they're trying to fit into the market by being artsy and "different" just so they can fit in...", isn't that what Kensington Market is all about?
Talk about taking what I said out of context!! The full version...

Actually, Loblaws' owned Freshmart is opening where Zimmerman's was... it's a damn shame. Even worse, they're trying to fit into the market by being artsy and "different" just so they can fit in... talk about insulting.

Furthermore, your above quote shows just how out of touch you are with this neighbourhood. Being artsy and different is merely a result of what the market is about... not a criteria for "fitting in". That's why I think what you're creating with your store is insulting to the community and what it stands for. Are you really that blind? Why do you think that performance artist came with his "congregation" to your store? Take off your blinders and see what you are dealing with here! Again, it's a lot more than what you have been expressing here.

Oh, and for the record, Lusitania's on Augusta sells toilet paper.

January 2, 2005

I stand corrected ,it was Spatula city that said my store is owned by Loblaws.

Posted by SpatulaCity, posting # 57
Actually, Loblaws' owned Freshmart is opening where Zimmerman's was...

Its a shame that in KGB's attempts to expose Zimmerman's Freshmart he conveniently forgot to mention that the other few Freshmarts that do exist are all located in small country towns, and that they are all privately owned by local families and community members.

Freshmart is no different than IGA ( Independent Grocers Association).The only affiliation is that we all have is a buying agreement to supply product. I have always maintained that my store is privately owned , and that I have a buying agreement with National Grocers to supply the store with merchandise.

KGB suggests that I " chose to market this new store to the public by attaching all the trappings of the Loblaws Corp to it. "

That's funny, I chose my own products, I hired my own staff and I set my own prices, and as to marketing strategies I call the shots, it seems you know something I don't, where are the trappings ?

The only trapping that I may be guilty of is personally interacting and getting involved with the community as I have done for the last 20 years, have I done something wrong?

SpatulaCity made reference to Reverend Billy "Why do you think that performance artist came with his "congregation" to your store?"

Here's a perfect example of a Shepard leading his flock blindly. After I had an opportunity to expose the truth I thanked him for bringing "His Congregation" to my store. The majority of those people in the audience came up to me afterwards and said that now that they know the facts and the person behind the store they will all be my customers.

It is obvious that there are still a few concerned members in the community . I have to admit that your concerns are admirable, nobody wants the market to lose it's character, and I would be the first to standup and say something about it.

I am not hiding and with time you will all see that there is nothing to worry about. I've placed all the facts on the table , I have nothing to hide.

January 2, 2005
Freshmart is no different than IGA ( Independent Grocers Association).The only affiliation is that we all have is a buying agreement to supply product. I have always maintained that my store is privately owned , and that I have a buying agreement with National Grocers to supply the store with merchandise.

And there you go ruining yourself. Do we want an IGA in Kensington. HELL NO!!! This really isn't rocket science.


Here's a perfect example of a Shepard leading his flock blindly. After I had an opportunity to expose the truth I thanked him for bringing "His Congregation" to my store. The majority of those people in the audience came up to me afterwards and said that now that they know the facts and the person behind the store they will all be my customers.

Right, and every single one of us is sending you personal PMs telling you we will be your customers, right? :|

"That's funny, I chose my own products, I hired my own staff and I set my own prices, and as to marketing strategies I call the shots, it seems you know something I don't, where are the trappings ? "


Still trying play the coy game huh?

I think you know very well what I'm talking about. You chose to market your store by making the Loblaws aspect the main selling point by promoting the Freshmart name and the products that go along with the Loblaws branding.

And in most places, this would be good marketing, as Loblaws brands are very popular mainstream products.

But Kensington is not most places...it tries it's hardest to stay away from the mainstream...and that's it's selling point. The whole world is infested with mainstream corporate blandness...Kensington is one of those rare places where you can get away from it.

You see, it doesn't matter who owns the store...McDonalds are privetely owned stores as well. In the end, nobody cares who signs the check or pays the mortgage...it's the image of the neighbourhood that matters...and how it's perceived by it's patrons. As soon as Kensington gets mainstream enough, it will lose it's draw. It's just like how Queen West keeps heading west to get away from the big mainstream stores.

Or maybe you just don't get it at all. In which case, I guess we will just let fate take it's course.

Kensington is bound to change...every place does eventually...and you will be able to say you were one of the first to help that happen.






KGB

KGB "That's funny, I chose my own products, I hired my own staff and I set my own prices, and as to marketing strategies I call the shots, it seems you know something I don't, where are the trappings ? "


Still trying play the coy game huh?

I think you know very well what I'm talking about. You chose to market your store by making the Loblaws aspect the main selling point by promoting the Freshmart name and the products that go along with the Loblaws branding

KGB makes the above accusation and yet he has not given one single example of how I am falling into these trappings.

Again it seems KGB knows something I don't . I challenge him to give me one single example of such a trapping that I am guilty of. Talk is cheap.

^ You're calling it a Freshmart. End of story. If you don't understand the problem, you're stupid. If you're playing stupid, it's annoying.

Anyways, you refuse to acknowledge the grievances and pretend like you don't understand. Indeed, you're right. Talk IS cheap.

This is the neighborhood I would like to end up in a few years from now. Looks very interesting. Some US neighborhoods that are similar are SoHo in NYC, Haight-Ashbury in SF, and Little Five Points in Atlanta.

Sorry, but Soho and Haight-Ashbury are not anything like Kensington...are you refering to their heydays in the 60's or something? Even then, they would be more like Yorkville in the 60's...not present day Kensington, which may have some "hippy" undertones, but is not a throwback kinda place really...it's a unique blend of things that are unique to itself and reflect attitudes of today...not the 60's per say.







KGB

WOW... I've never been :(... Now I must go... In the summer though.

^By all means, do. KM is perhaps Toronto's most unique area.

This is the neighborhood I would like to end up in a few years from now. Looks very interesting. Some US neighborhoods that are similar are SoHo in NYC, Haight-Ashbury in SF, and Little Five Points in Atlanta.

I have heard it said that Kensington Market is for lack of a better term an "artist ghetto" though it is not ghetto in the poor and run down way. It is not known for being a place that is trendy because trendy is just another way of saying in fasion. KM is far more independant than any of the areas listed in your post.

Amazing neighborhood! Very, very, very impressed.

^ You're calling it a Freshmart. End of story. If you don't understand the problem, you're stupid. If you're playing stupid, it's annoying.

Anyways, you refuse to acknowledge the grievances and pretend like you don't understand. Indeed, you're right. Talk IS cheap.

Seeing how it's been over a year since this post was made, I'm curious as to how the whole Freshmart thing turned out.

December 25, 2005

I would like to introduce myself to the readers of this web site. My name is Martin Zimmerman, I am the owner of Zimmerman's Freshmart.

It is sad when people jump to conclusions before they know all the facts.
My family started in Kensington market over 50 years ago. My father had his first grocery store at 200 Baldwin St. 1952.

As the business grew we moved around the corner to Augusta Ave. The Zimmerman's are one of the longest established family businesses in Kensington Market.

The renovation of the store and the addition of Freshmart to the family name in no way makes my store a corporate store owned by Loblaw's.

By carrying products such as President's Choice and No-name makes my store no different then any other store in Kensington Market !
All the local fruit merchants carry corporate products such as Sunkist Oranges, Dole Pineapples, and Chiquita Bananas, and other local restaurants and bars sell Labatts Blue, Molson's and Coke. The only difference between my store and every one else is that my family has operated a business in Kensington Market longer than any one else.

I have personally been involved in all the community issues in Kensington Market for over 20 years, and I know how sensitive the community is to the gentrification of the area, and I am the last person who encourage such a change. I grew up in Kensington Market and it is my goal to maintain the multicultural flair of the area.

If any body still has any concerns please feel to visit me at the store, I will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Wow! You never know who's lurking around here. You see the same names so often its hard to forget this isn't a private club.

^^ That's crazy.

I always love looking at pictures from KM and I always scratch my head why I don't
spend more time there on those lazy hazy crazy summer days. Next summer I will
go there more often.

^^ Same here, since I've never been there lol... That might be my new chill spot, along with lil'Jamaica ofcourse.

I find it hard to believe there are young people who live in Toronto, who have never been to Kensington??

Anyway, might as well make a plan to go on one of the P.S. Kensington days this summer (Pedestrian Sundays)...assuming they are still going to have them. That is, if you want lots of interesting things to see and do...they put on some really great festivals too...Kensington Rocks...the Blackout Festival...Festival of Lights...Harvest Festival. All very local...very creative...and no corporate sponsers, floats or logos.






KGB

So no one knows how the Freshmart saga turned out? Did it ever actually open? Was it successful? Did Zimmerman stick with the Freshmart name? Was there a huge community uproar? Surely something must have happened in the span of an entire year... :?

Nice pics, I usually go down there to get Incense sticks, they have good ones down there for really cheap.

NouvellecosseJanuary 11th, 2006, 04:49 PM
So no one knows how the Freshmart saga turned out? Did it ever actually open? Was it successful? Did Zimmerman stick with the Freshmart name? Was there a huge community uproar? Surely something must have happened in the span of an entire year... :?


July 24,2006

It is a year and a half later. To date we have had 212,428 customers pass through the store. That should say it all.

As a matter o' fact I was in Kensington Market today as I had a craving for pupusas ..
here are a couple of pix I snapped..

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/1686/july2406kensingtonroachoramary9.jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7530/july2406kensingtoncommunityartys5.jpg

July 24,2006

It is a year and a half later. To date we have had 212,428 customers pass through the store. That should say it all.

Huh? Nobody argued you wouldn't have business.

Well, nobody imagined Kensington would implode the minute the store opened. Places like Kensington don't die in some dramatic swoop....it's a death from a thousand cuts...and this is just one of them.

Kensington is seeing a bit of gentrification, but at the moment, continues to survive quite nicely....generally due to people trying hard to keep it's character...it's lucky to have as many dedicated fans as it does. Most places would have fallen to gentrification by now.

Maybe one day in the future, when Kensington is just a memory, it will inspire Loblaws to put a "Memories of Kensington Market" sauce on the Freshmart shelves?






KGB

Maybe one day in the future, when Kensington is just a memory, it will inspire Loblaws to put a "Memories of Kensington Market" sauce on the Freshmart shelves?

KGB


LOL!!!!


also, when i started reading this thread, i didn't realise it was like 3 years old, but KGB, did you ever see the show TWITCH CITY with Don McKeller and Molly Parker? it was another show set in kensington and Al Waxman is actually in the first episode and "accidentally" gets killed by a can of catfood.

But, KGB, can you imagine the taste?! ;)

Really great phototour! Especially since you just got your digital camera! You obviously know a thing or two about photography because I like the way you set up quite a few of those shots.

I adore Kensington Market... funny how I always feel like I have stepped through a portal into a whole different country or something whenever I'm there. I'm not even kidding- it's hard to explain. It's its own little cluster, unlike the rest of Toronto. It's such a gem!

haha, has no one else noticed this thread is 2 years old?

haha, has no one else noticed this thread is 2 years old?

??? I think most people assumed that it was obviously an old thread so didn't comment on it. This is the type of thread I am happy to see come back. It is the one that I saw last winter that inspired me to become more familiar with the wonderful Kensington Market.

KGB July 25th, 2006, 03:33 PM
Well, nobody imagined Kensington would implode the minute the store opened.

July 25, 2006

It is ridiculus to think that the Market will implode with the reopening of a grocery store that had operated at the same location by the same family years before.

Other stores like the Discount Store at 210 Augusta Ave. has been carring the "Our Compliments" line of food products licsenced to Sobey's, for over 15 years. It should be of no suprise that their main supplier is Lumsden Brothers a division of Sobey's. As far as I know no one has deemed that as an act of gentrification.

To date each and every store in Kensington Market has a character of its own and is privately owned and Im glad to be one of them !

I was browsing in Zimmerman's yesterday. It completely reminds me of a typical store in Brazil. If I may humbly make a suggestion, they make it a little too obvious that they are watching everyone for shoplifting. I felt uncomfortable at the way they kept shouting "Can I help you" every time
you turned your back to them. I had no idea I looked so much like a shoplifter. ;)

wow, how appropriate... this thread just won't die.

but yeah, Kensington has see some gentrification but there is a strong unique culture there that will keep it going for many years to come. Although it has been like this for some time, a South American presence is getting more prominent, I think.



I'd also like to add that I've never stepped foot in Freshmart and I never will!

What do people think of the encroaching Queen Street crowd with places like Bungalow? I don't mind a little, but would hate to see it become the next "in" place
for that particular crowd.

I was browsing in Zimmerman's yesterday. It completely reminds me of a typical store in Brazil. If I may humbly make a suggestion, they make it a little too obvious that they are watching everyone for shoplifting. I felt uncomfortable at the way they kept shouting "Can I help you" every time
you turned your back to them. I had no idea I looked so much like a shoplifter.
Taller, are you sure you're referring to Freshmart? I can't imagine how that looks like a typical store in Brazil (although I've never been to either).

There is a Zimmerman's Discount (I think that's what it's called) across the street. I think these two guys are brothers or cousins or something. Is that the store you're referring to?

Taller, BetterJuly 25th, 2006, 07:30 PM
I was browsing in Zimmerman's yesterday. It completely reminds me of a typical store in Brazil. If I may humbly make a suggestion, they make it a little too obvious that they are watching everyone for shoplifting. I felt uncomfortable at the way they kept shouting "Can I help you" every time
you turned your back to them. I had no idea I looked so much like a shoplifter. ;)


July 25, 2006

It would appear that you are referring to my cousins store Zimmerman's Discount across the street as pointed out by Spatula City . At Freshmart I always make it a piont to make my customers feel comfortable. On behalf of the Zimmerman Family I would like to apoligize for their behaviour.

Yes, I was referring to the Zimmerman's Discount. It truly looks like a typical store in Brazil, especially from the street. I admit I did feel very uncomfortable with the hawk-like surveilance and loud "CAN I HELP YOU???" but maybe they have had a lot of shoplifting.

"Other stores like the Discount Store at 210 Augusta Ave. has been carring the "Our Compliments" line of food products licsenced to Sobey's, for over 15 years. It should be of no suprise that their main supplier is Lumsden Brothers a division of Sobey's. As far as I know no one has deemed that as an act of gentrification.

To date each and every store in Kensington Market has a character of its own and is privately owned and Im glad to be one of them ! "




Here's what I don't like about you....

You are either extremely stupid, or STILL tap-dancing around the main issue by trying to be coy.

While I personally don't think a small grocery store is going to do much damage to the neighbourhood, it's the fact that it is a CHAIN....and as such, sends waves of corporate branding hysteria through the neighbourhood.

I mean, if you want to open a small grocery store, why in the world did you choose to operate under a corporate chain, rather than a completely independent store??????

It doesn't matter if it's a franchise thing or a corporate owned thing...the result is the same. I imagine you thought you could make more money operating under a corporate chain (like people who know they will make more money buying a McDonalds franchise than opening up an independent restaurant).

Unfortunetely, you picked the wrong neighbourhood to do this in, because ANY big corporate branding represents a threat to the flavour of the neighbourhood, and will be met with resistance. You of course already know this, but obviously don't care.

So...the bottom line is that you would rather start the ball rolling with corporate chain presence in the nabe so you can possibly make more money, than preserve the non-corporate nature of the area, for which it is famous for. So while it is just one small store, it is setting a precidence.

When the day comes when chain stores have invaded Kensington in force, and forever changed it's nature, YOU will be seen as the grandfather of corporate gentrification who got the ball rolling.

Not that you will care.



.....should'a just opened a grocery store without the corporate chain name and saved all the hastle....and possibly a great neighbourhood.









"What do people think of the encroaching Queen Street crowd with places like Bungalow? "


While not a corporate chain or anything like that, Bungalow does have a "hip" Queen West kinda feel to it. Now, it is just another store selling vintage clothes and furniture...something you see a lot of in Kensington. Just shows you how sensitive the neighbourhood feel is....even the Queen West vibe threatens it, and it's not like the Queen West vibe is that far off....but it is different.









KGB

You must be stupid. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blah

KGB

Having fun pretending you're a know it all holier than thou anti-establishment hippy again?

Nice photos Spatula.

Yea....I am having fun...what's it to ya?

Have anything intelligent to add, or are you just happier trolling?

What is even funnier, is that your post is actually edited. ha ha ha






KGB

Oh....and anyone who imagines me to be the hippy type couldn't be any farther from the truth. To give ya a hint...I don't smoke grass...I do smoke cigs...and I just lit it with a Cartier lighter.






KGB