ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Along LeMarchant Road in the city centre of St. John's, there's a 200-metre stretch of commercial properties that once collectively employed close to 200 people. But for the last few years, they've all been empty.
The former Scotsburn Ice Cream plant, a business dating back to 1930s at that location under the Brookfield brand, closed for good four years ago, affecting the manufacturing plant and a nearby warehouse. Nestled in between those properties was a Needs Convenience Store. It closed less than a year later.
This is where Greg Hanley enters the picture. Through his company Nidus Development, Hanley purchased all of those properties to fulfill a vision he hopes welcomes new businesses and residents alike.
“They would only sell it as one piece. It was a little bit daunting as a development to go after such a large chunk of property in the middle of the city, but I like to take the jump sometimes,” Hanley said with a laugh.
Revitalization plan
This month, at the former Needs location, Hanley and Ivy Allan will open Urban Market 1919, a small grocery store specializing in local food and gifts, along with ready-to-eat meals and sandwiches. They're also launching a coffee brand — First Flight Coffee — through the store and hope to open a standalone coffee shop next spring as part of a 2,500-square-foot building expansion.
As for the old manufacturing plant, Nidus has an application before the city to replace it and an adjacent house with an 80-unit apartment building with underground parking and street-level commercial space.
The old warehouse space, which decades ago had large windows facing LeMarchant and was used as an automotive service station — Grouchy's Tires & Tubes — will be restored back to its original look in order to entice potential commercial tenants.
The apartment building requires municipal rezoning from commercial industrial to apartment high density. Nidus will complete a land-use assessment report and a virtual public meeting must also take place. At the earliest, Hanley could envision construction starting next spring.
"Depending on public feedback and how that moves through council for rezoning, that could drag out for a long time," he said. "But so far, all area residents that I've spoken to are very eager and on board to see all this happen. The council themselves so far have been very interested.
"Since Brookfield closed almost four years ago, this has just been empty, and it's time now that it gets revitalized and redeveloped. It's great for the area, neighbourhood residents as well, to see some revitalization. Right now, it's hard to keep places from being graffitied and whatnot, because it's just empty buildings. Once life comes back into the area, that's will dissipate."
Urban Market 1919
Allan, who partnered up with Hanley on the new store, considers Urban Market 1919 a one-stop shop for local food and other items, providing an alternative for people who might otherwise rely on the weekend farmers' market. So far, Urban Market 1919 has over 70 food vendors, bakeries, farms, artists and craft vendors on board, offering everything from fresh meat and seafood to greens and homemade breads.
"So far, all area residents that I've spoken to are very eager and on board to see all this happen." — Greg Hanley. Nidus Devlopment
"We're really focusing on the local goods," explained Allan. "We're essentially a grocery-convenience store where you can get all your items — a quick grab-and-go. Things like pre-made meals, freshly made sandwiches. You can grab your coffee. But we also have your bread, eggs, milk, fresh deli meats. And everything that we can get local, we are getting local."
Hanley expects the apartment building will contribute to the customer base for the market, coffee shop and other local businesses. He also likes the surrounding area’s demographics — the average household median income is in excess of $75,000.
Allan considers LeMarchant Road a main artery for accessing downtown St. John's and expects this too will help the business. With the pandemic in mind, the store will also have a drive-thru grocery window and contactless pickup to accommodate shoppers who want to remain inside their vehicles.
The former Grouchy building, which is over 18,000-square-feet and two storeys in the back, has been listed for sale on the real estate market. Hanley hopes restoring the exterior's appearance to match what it originally looked like will increase its street appeal and encourage someone to either buy or lease the space to realize a business venture. He's also preparing residential building lots on vacant land behind the property facing St. Michaels Avenue.
Here's one I colorized of Grouchy's Tire on LeMarchant Road. Looks to be late 1940s. No historical significance, just a great photo of a simpler time. #Newfoundland #NLhistory pic.twitter.com/xLKVeOuUVu
— Newfoundland and Labrador History in Colour (@NLHistory) June 26, 2020
Redevelopment opportunities
Interest in redeveloping that end of LeMarchant Road extends just east of the Nidus properties. The city recently issued a request for proposals for the sale and redevelopment of the former West End Fire Hall. There has been some recent success with finding new uses for former fire stations in St. John's, as evidenced by Bannerman Brewing opening up in the former East End Fire Hall on Duckworth Street.
Hanley would love to see something positive happen with that property to create a thriving business.
"The more we bring back to the area — and not just us, but other businesses as well — helps everybody grow," Hanley said, adding he does anticipate any successful redevelopment of that site will require a substantial amount of work and resources. "Hopefully, somebody can pick that one up and turn that one around."
Part of the Nidus development would also entail creating a small walking trail and park area connecting St. Michaels Avenue and LeMarchant. This will double as a new site for a provincial government monument dedicated to aviation pioneers John Alcock and Arthur Brown, who made the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight from St. John's to Ireland in 1919 — hence the names Urban Market 1919 and First Flight Coffee. That monument currently sits in front of the old ice cream plant.
Twitter: @CBNAndrew
Andrew Robinson is a business reporter in St. John’s.
