At Cobourg Council’s Committee of the Whole (CoW) meeting on January 24, the Planning Department will provide a Site Plan for a new plaza at 1025 Elgin Street immediately north of Staples – that’s adjacent to the A & W already there – see the simplified diagram below. According to documents on the Town’s web site, three tenants have already signed leases: Mary Brown’s Chicken, Fat Bastard Burritos and Fire and Flower (another Cannabis Store – but not yet approved). You have to wonder if Cobourg needs more restaurants and cannabis stores although no doubt the potential owners are looking past the current Covid restrictions. No public meeting will be held or is required. The location is adjacent to the Mall but is not owned or managed by the Mall owners; it’s managed by Westdell and owned by TriBate Assett Management as part of the Staples property.
Simplified Site Plan
According to my count, the following restaurants are close to the new ones (within 1 Km) – some within easy walking distance
- A & W – next door – 1111 Elgin
- 241 Pizza – 1 Strathy Road
- CJ’s – just across Elgin – 1 Strathy Road
- Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House – 1 Strathy Road
- Domino’s Pizza – 2 Strathy Road
- Boston Pizza – 1111 Elgin
- Firehouse Subs – 1111 Elgin
- HomePlate – adjacent plaza – 955 Elgin
- Pizza Hut – adjacent plaza – 955 Elgin
- Symposium – adjacent plaza – 965 Elgin
- Mucho Burrito – 66 Strathy Road
- Swiss Chalet – 70 Strathy Road
- Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen – 75 Strathy Road
- East Side Mario’s – 75 Strathy Road
- Arthur’s Pub – corner of Burnham Street
- MacDonalds – 805 William
- Wendy’s – 801 William
- Tim Horton’s – 749 William
- Big Boys Burgers – 743 William
And there are probably more! With current Covid restrictions, restaurants are only open for take-out – the above list is not intended as a restaurant guide but simply as a list of restaurants close to the new ones.
If it makes any difference, Mary Brown’s Chicken is a large Canadian chain with 200 stores across Canada; Fat Bastard Burritos is an Ontario based chain with 57 stores.
TripAdvisor counts 65 restaurants in all of Cobourg although they are missing many.
Council will be asked to approve a By-Law to execute a Development Agreement for this proposed building.
Resources
Previous Posts on Cobourg News Blog
- Update on Cannabis Stores – 21 December 2021
- Starbucks now Hiring – 2 August 2021 – Starbucks is at 1111 Elgin but I see it as coffee shop and not as a restaurant.
- Cobourg Planning Department Busy – 14 July 2021 – first mention of this development
Documents on Town’s Web site
- Town’s Site Plan Applications – Click Site Plan Applications
- Site Plan
- Design Elevations – Storefronts showing which stores will be coming
- Context Map
Print Article:
Now if we could only get a Bank or 2 to move up there where there would be adequate parking and access for the customers and employees that would be fantastic . Covid has shown some of us at the Royal that a drive through would be fantastic . This lining up outside for as much as 2 0 mins. in the inclement weather during Covid is not Customer friendly
Town of Cobourg Zoning By-Law only permits Banks/Financial Institutions in the Main Commercial area/zone (Downtown).
Town is afraid the Banks, who are “tenant anchors” leaving will be the end of the Downtown core.
Scotiabank got away with it, but no others are allowed to vacate the “Core”
So be prepared to freeze some more…
The Down Town has Come and Gone and Never recovered
The problem is the Former Economic Devel manager / Town
was never allowed to study and record why so many business
Failed Closed or went Bank Rupt . Correct the Problem !
I believe Keven Narroway
was severely chastised over this very point . Now look what he has done for Port Hope.
The Downtown will always continue to struggle and fail to rise to what people think it could be.
The Downtown requires a radical re-visioning.
So long as it is kept as a living museum to 1940’s small town commerce, it will never achieve the success, so many desire
Buildings need to be torn down. New ones built that can fully meet their respective tenants, businesses and customers needs.
Partnerships need to be made with large property developers. Those with unique ideas and the ability to deliver.
Port Hope has their quaint historical downtown. Its time Cobourg stops looking in the past and look to the future. Lets bring in buildings, concepts that will put Cobourg at the fore front of a modern small town downtown.
Nothing us meant to last forever. If we could speak with the people who built these buildings, they would probably say we are foolish for dwelling on the past. They would tell us tear them down and build something that will amaze
Is there a gym coming to the mall? I thought there was before Covid hit. As well as Sunset Grill.
I’m happy to see businesses open and investment in our town regardless of whether it is one I would frequent or not. Jobs are provided, taxes are supplied to help with the town tax burden for all, and it attracts patrons to other businesses. Not sure what the negative nillys are thinking. Don’t want pot or burritos? Don’t go there. Want another type of product or food? Open a business and invest in your community. It’s not like they paved paradise to put up a parking lot. It already was a parking lot ✌️🤝 I’m supportive of any endeavours and start-ups in this community especially after 2 years of many businesses struggling to stay afloat.
For sure. It’s a sign of a healthy local economy, and the exact opposite of a municipality slowly withering away and in danger of becoming a ghost town.
Agree. It’s one small economic sign.
We really need to understand the other signs as well. Will they find capable employees here? Ones that can afford to actually live in our town and pay rent or buy a home and pay taxes?
Is the landlord a local, resident investor or from Ottawa? Is their financing done here or from a Toronto-based bank? Is the franchise headquartered here or are profits/royalties shipped to the GTA?
I agree with Denise above–but I would add that businesses that are truly local where wages and profit stay here deserve full support. One dollar of their earnings circulates 7 times and the benefits are exponential.
I dont see the relevance to most of your comments. Sure it may be nice to know jobs , money etc stays local but would you actually discourage the opposite?
Good question about finding employees. Some businesses have great difficulty now and bring people here from outside of the area. Maybe that is good? With increase competition businesses will have less profit or have to reduce costs. Labour is often a major expense. Personally, I do not remember the last time I had a burrito. Maybe I will have 3 options soon (Barburrito at 1111 Elgin could be added to JD’s list).
Its Just a sign that this Pandemic and Govt. created recession has wiped out a lot of Local & Family operated small business that already employed Many locals . Investors and suppliers will have lost out as well . But if you look at the New incoming tenants they are mostly franchises in leased space .
Minimum wage jobs , designed around less than full time hours to
minimize costs , deduction & benefit requirements .
Probably not locally owned / operated .
Its a shame that so many family run and locally owned
small business have once again been wiped out debt ridden and easily forgotten .
What’s happening with the mall? Sport Chek and the movie theatre appear to be hanging on for now… If they go I’m stuck with Walmart for my kids clothes and a long drive to see a movie. Based on the businesses coming here the Cobourg market seems to have endless demand for greasy food and pot.
Is there a gym coming?
Cobourg has certainly marketed itself as “the feel good town”. A place where you can get high and fat fast.
Want to linger and shop for clothes, shoes and fine dining? Move back on to the 401.
Problem is we are surrounded by Peterborough, Oshawa and Belleville – all larger communities with big box stores – and each close enough that there is no real incentive for those merchants to add a location here as well.
Nice to see growth and the additional jobs that will be created.My guess is that there will be a saturation level reached with all the pot shops and there wont be as many in a few years. Good news for Cobourg!
A new gas station coming beside Rona Building supplies on Division St , 8 pumps , C-Store and 30 seat restaurant
There will be more officials at the Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremonies for these businesses than there will be at their Job Fairs.
Will there be more cannabis stores in Cobourg than people at the Grand Openings?
That is quite the food list! I imagine catering to the passing 401 traffic, now that you do not actually have to see the sign to know a certain restaurant is close, is an intended market. Orders can even be placed before you arrive. And, I wonder if the drive-thru concept is due for a refresh in favour of park or stop your car in a nicely decorated designated parking area – the engine can be turned off and reduce idling pollution, but electric vehicles may make that a non-issue in the future – and have a cute little robot deliver to directly to your car. Swipe to pay or your food will not be released. Would it be more efficient, I wonder?
Interesting idea. Electric vehicles could be plugged in to charge while you eat. Didn’t drive-in restaurants have ‘cute little’ young women deliver to your car? Some wearing very tight clothing and roller skates (obviously quite sexist). Just another example of technology replacing humans. What will the people who are being replaced do?
Good point about the vehicle recharging scenario. Servers on roller skates did happen in the past, both male and female. On the multiple down votes for my suggestion, I think the Canadian winter spoke also! I doubt there would be fewer jobs for people since a machine can only do so much. Depending upon design of the serve area, the wait in a line for a customer could be shorter. Then again, winter happens.
“Electric vehicles could be plugged in to charge while you eat.“
And it won’t be free.
Why would the charging be free? Is it free anywhere now?
Or did you mean the food won’t be free?😉