Commercial Properties Update – March 2019

Although there are concerns about some empty stores in Cobourg, there are other businesses that seem to be doing well.  But even if you are doing well, it may be time to retire or simply move on.  In addition, some businesses are tenants and the owners of their building want to sell. When businesses and buildings sell, it lets everyone know what the market thinks that these properties and businesses are worth.  Real Estate agents have to publish their offerings to connect with buyers yet they are also often coy about letting the public know because the business may not want clients to know they are thinking of moving out or maybe shutting down.  In many cases, there are two parts to a price – the value of the business and the value of the building; sometimes both are sold and sometimes only one part.

Woodlawn Inn
Woodlawn Inn

Here is a report on the Commercial Real Estate market with a focus on business properties that many will be familiar with.  The list includes the business name, the address, a phrase used in the listing, whether it’s the business and/or the building, the asking price and the agent with his web site/page.  This is not a complete list – e.g. empty stores for rent are not included.  Some of these properties have been on sale for a while; others are new listings.  The list is in descending price sequence.

Significant Commercial Properties for Sale

  • Woodlawn Inn  420 Division.  The Woodlawn Inn is a renowned boutique hotel and a preferred destination for those seeking fine dining and superlative guest accommodations.  Business and building. $2.55M  Agent: Tony Pulla
  • Meet at 66 King & Dairy Dream – Address 66 King East.  Can be tenant occupied or vacant  – implies with or without the business. $1.55M  Agent: Dalt Spicer
  • Millstone Bread  53-55 Albert St., Popular Bakery with large income and room for continued growth – business and building $1.25M  Agent: Michal Hasek
  • Harden & Huyse building  201 Division Street – one of Cobourg’s much admired landmarks  The building houses the Cobourg Loft, Craft Food House and more. Building only $1.15M  Agent: Tony Pulla
  • El Camino 74 King West  Excellent investment opportunity for the savvy real estate investor. Implication is for building only. $895K  Agent: Tony Pulla
  • Oasis 31 King East  Amazing Mixed use Income Property. Implication that owner wants to sell restaurant/bar business as well as building. $845K.  Agent: Johnny Percolides
  • Frank’s Pasta and Grill   426 King East.  Own One Of Cobourg’s Most Popular Establishments  $229K business and building, or business only $125K. Agent: Kelly Welton
  • Marca’s  #201 – 165 Division. Great Views of Lake Ontario –  Only Business and fixtures are for sale at $149K Agent: CHI Real Estate Group

Previous updates included one downtown property (land) that seems to be no longer for sale and certainly is not found in a Google search:  202 Second Street – 2018 Downtown Update

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DEAN
4 years ago

this weekend I found out good life fitness is closing and heard that franks pasta bar is closed.
five star chinese food is for sale on realtor.ca but I think they are doing very well.

Yvonne Michalski
4 years ago

We visit Julie’s Place regularly and enjoy excellent service and a clean, friendly environment. Food choices are surprisingly varied and delicious, for such a small diner, the best sweet potato fries I have ever eaten. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. Whatever customer issue, real or imagined there was, it is no more. There are always start up pains in any establishment. This is a personal review, based on our own experiences, not hearsay, We highly endorse this new member of the Cobourg restaurant family.

Steve
4 years ago

As someone commented before, they noticed Julie’s place is going in where Let’s eat used to be. Julie’s place is highly not recommended by a lot of people as it is not a family restaurant and she chases people out of the parking lot. She has chased a family with special needs out of the parking lot, and turns down people with children as she sees fit. It was an awful experience and I will not recommend it to anyone.

manfred s
Reply to  Steve
4 years ago

you know, that’s the biiig problem with social media and the opportunity it provides for uncorroborated remarks and criticisms emanating from one point of view. One’s own personal experience should be the only criterium used to decide on the merits, or otherwise, of one’s dining experience, rather than someone else’s. Who knows the whole picture when it comes to someone else’s experience other than that person ? “… highly not recommended by a lot of people”… sounds like you took a survey, did you? Or is it simply an overt attempt to bolster your own opinion to poison the well? If you truly want to influence a situation, at least have the courage to use your full name. Making such negative comments in relative anonymity reduces them to little more than 1 small bunch of sour grapes.

Ken Strauss
Reply to  manfred s
4 years ago

For another point of view and with a full name:
I’ve had several lunches and suppers (but no breakfast) at Julie’s. The owner and staff have always been very polite with good service, the restaurant is much cleaner and more inviting than Let’s Eat ever was and although food is not perfect it is as good or better than any other restaurant in Cobourg. Fortunately I haven’t encountered any squalling brats at Julie’s but she certainly has patrons of all ages so I suppose that makes it a “family restaurant”.

Mark
4 years ago

Noticed that Let’s Eat at Williams and University has closed and Julie’s Place is going in
Not sure what it will be
Also what is happening at the old Hamilton Insurance building by the OPP station

Walter L. Luedtke
4 years ago

Sad to see so many restaurants which give Cobourg a unique ambiance are on the market.
They are all individually owned and have their own personalities.
But the cookie-cutter franchise eateries are all doing well, or so it seems.
There is no level playing field between the Oasis and Swiss Chalet or Eastside Mario’s.
Both of the latter are part of the 19 restaurant ‘brands’ of the Recipeunlimited corporation – sales of $3.41 billion last year.
“Our company franchises and/or operates some of the most iconic restaurant brands in Canada. We are a nationally recognized franchisor of choice with almost 1400 restaurants located in more than 300 communities across Canada, including 61 international locations.”
Rather than buying an existing restaurant, investors must be tempted to open another Montana’s, Kelseys, Harvey’s, or The Keg in Cobourg. All of those are also Recipeunlimited brands.
I am also worried about the future of the servers many of whom have been with some restaurants for years.
Best of luck for a successful sale of your venues and for continued employment for the servers under the new ownership.

Downtown resident
4 years ago

Thanks again John for doing all this research and providing such an excellent public/community service. It wld be a total vacuum of information without you.

ben
4 years ago

I guess all of those people on this Board who are clamouring for more restaurants should ask themselves why these restaurants are for sale? Either they are so successful that the owners want to cash out or they see the writing on the wall. Take your pick.

Dubious
Reply to  ben
4 years ago

Some other eateries such as the Home Plate (beside the mall) and McDonalds and Tims appear to be thriving.

abby
Reply to  Dubious
4 years ago

Yes, Dubious, but those and many others are exactly what you said: eateries. They are not places to enjoy a real dining experience.