Stoney Creek's Downtown: Part Four, Changes

We've covered what changed in the village-proper since the mid-60s. Now; what’s changed over forty-five years in the world outside the downtown?

Well, before we get into the business and commerce side of things, here's something intriguing: over this time period, very little has changed in respect to the residential capacity of the area. (And here I mean from Centennial to Gray, from Hwy #8 to the Escarpment.) The family profile shifted; families got bigger, then contracted, owners left for retirement homes or died, then new families moved in...and while I don't have access to the numbers, I'm willing to bet that the more recent census numbers are comparable to 1965's. Mostly because the housing within these geographical borders simply didn't change much. Yes, we gained some minor extensions of streets, yes we gained a retirement complex. But to a large extent, a satellite photo of this area from mid-60s and one taken today would be remarkably similar. (For the naysayers: yes, the Skyway Drive-in is now a 'shopping area'. Yes, Saltfleet High School is now Cardinal Newman/Saltfleet Library. And? And?)

Back then, shopping options were much different. Just one true area mall, 'The Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre', a flourishing downtown Hamilton (yet not so flourishing that they didn't knock much of it down), the Farmers' Markets, and local grocery stores situated in various shopping areas such as Ottawa, Kenilworth, Barton and Concession Streets as well as the strip mall at Queenston and Hwy #8. (Look; in no way am I attempting to present an historically perfect snapshot; this is an editorial article, my take on the subject. I'm trying to relate 'then and now' realistically. That's all. If you disagree with what I'm saying, click on the 'Comment' feature and let's have a discussion. That's what this site is for, remember.)

In a relatively short span of time, everything changed: the notion of a 'shop in one place, under one roof' descended upon us, and nothing would ever be the same again. Lloyd D. Jackson Square, Eastgate Square, Limeridge Mall, Mapleview Mall, The Meadowlands arrived. As well, various other business districts and shopping area choices expanded or blossomed, and development to the east of the Stoney Creek downtown also produced notable options. (It needs to be noted here that not all of these locations were consistently successful. In fact, some have gone through multiple iterations over the years, such as a revitalized Centre Mall.)

Currently, if you stand at the corner of Mountain Avenue South and King Street East in downtown Stoney Creek, there are at least four malls and big-box centers and more than a half-dozen full-size grocery stores within a half-hour's drive away. Options aplenty. And let's not forget the World Wide Web and online ordering. Because shopping habits have changed. The marketplace has changed. Moreover, retailing has changed, distribution had changed, marketing, advertising... Changed, changed, changed. All of it.

Except that from my perspective, the odd thing is that downtown Stoney Creek itself really doesn't seem to have changed much in all this time. And I'm not so sure that's a good thing.