Janice O’Reilly is walking her dogs with her friend Celeste Lyons down Richmond Street in London. The two live nearby and enjoy their walks, but they’re not too keen on shopping at local stores.
“I don’t shop downtown London, I go to the mall, because I feel safer,” said O’Reilly.
While Lyons mentioned that the area isn’t as lively as it used to be, she still visits the Covent Garden Market daily for a stroll.
The Downtown London Business Improvement Area (BIA) is kicking off a campaign to encourage shoppers to support local businesses – offering $1,000 in weekly draws for those who shop in the area.
People who spend over $15 at any downtown business can upload their receipt or leave a review online for a chance to enter the weekly draw.
Each week until June 14, six prizes of $1,000 in Downtown Dollar Gift Cards will be awarded, with $500 going to the winner and $500 going back to the business linked with that entry. Participants can submit up to 20 receipts or reviews for local businesses each week.
This marks the third year that the city has run this initiative aimed at “spurring some retail therapy” and helping local businesses thrive, according to Brent Hodson, the BIA’s marketing and communications manager.
“It’s been quite successful in previous years,” said Hodson, adding that they will monitor foot traffic and spending during this campaign.
Businesses Hope Campaign Draws Shoppers
This news is welcomed by Zack Agathos, who owns Al Paninos on Richmond Street. He has been handing out flyers about this contest “religiously” to his customers.
“We win, you win,” he remarked. “It’s great that downtown is doing this. It brings more people out while giving them a good reason.”
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Zack Agathos is the owner of Al Paninos on Richmond Street. (Jessica Singer/CBC)
Agriculture runs deep in his family’s history within restaurants; however, he notes that rising grocery prices are stressing their operations.
“It’s absolute insanity some days,” said Agathos regarding food prices. “But you have to be smart about how you do things.”
Agathos believes there’s room for improvement when it comes to making places like Richmond Street more attractive for visitors looking around but acknowledges significant community support and hopes campaigns like this gift card initiative will lead more people out for meals.
“Hopefully we keep it up; everybody’s happy with us so we can last here another 50 years,” he said.
“That’s my goal.”
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Downtown London launched an initiative offering $1,000 in weekly draws to entice people to shop in the area. (Jessica Singer/CBC)
These incentives aren’t enough for O’Reilly to increase her shopping downtown even though she does dine at restaurants locally.
She feels while bringing more shops into downtown could help matters; increased funding should also target mental health and addiction services within the city.
Lyons attended high school here in London where she worked at a denim store located on Dundas Street.
She reminisces about how vibrant downtown was during the 1970s when it boasted many different stores.
“It was thriving,” Lyons recalled.
“It was clean; it was safe.
Now it’s just different.”
‘There’s Always Somewhere New’
Londoner Colin Peacock finds most items he needs right downtown including all of his groceries. Shopping locally makes him feel closer connected with his community.
He hopes this campaign will motivate others towards spending time engaging with local vendors as well as each other.![]()
Colin Peacock says he purchases all of his groceries downtown.(Jessica Singer/CBC)
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