Could anyone tell me what these two streets are about. See them on downtown maps but never see any pics. Are they nice with shops, cafe's and restaurants/bars or are they much a due about nothing?
Pics?................Thanks.

They are not "much ado about nothing," exactly, but one is a street and the other is an urban mall/collection of streetfronts. Barclay MALL is the LANE and Penny LANE is the MALL.

Barclay Mall is actually 3rd St SW and it connects Eau Claire with Stephen Ave (8 Ave). Barclay was supposed to be sort of like Stephen Ave (ie a pedestrian mall) but aside from some okay seating and wide sidewalks, it's basically a non-retail-rich CBD street. There are changes afoot though as the Calgary Place bldg turns its main level into a new retail space (a big one, along the lines if TD Square. For now, all the "retail" is The Old Spaghetti Factory and a Starbucks at 6th Ave- which is the sort of CBD Starbucks that closes at 6 and isn't open Sundays.

Penny Lane is a rehabbed set of bldgs at Stephen Ave and 4th that comprises some decent restos (Mango Shiva, Zen 8 Sushi), a big pub, and a pretty pathetic interior space. I think the developers envisioned that it would be like Yamhill Market in Portland, but like Yamhill, it is a pretty sad place- on the inside. As you might be aware, there are plans to replace Penny Lane with new towers, but that's a long way off.

Seems like neither is worth much.

Starbucks at 6th Ave- which is the sort of CBD Starbucks that closes at 6 and isn't open Sundays.



My girlfriend worked there until last week - It is actually open sundays, and is open weekdays until 7:00 - but still a very business oriented starbucks.

Barclay st. right now really is a pedestrian connection between Stephen Avenue and the Eau Claire/Prince's Island area. There is some nice sandstone public art sculptures, and generally has a pleasent pedestrian environment, but is not a destination kind of street due to the lack of retail. Some big changes there as furry canuck mentioned - one really exciting development is of an office tower across the street from said starbucks currently just starting construction - It will add more street level retail to the street.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/joshwhit/6th3rd.jpg

Barclay Mall from Eaton's Centre"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/joshwhit/image1-75.jpg

Penny Lane Mall has a nice friendly brick facade onto Stephen Ave.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/joshwhit/picture80.jpg