Bummer: Tim Hortons & Wendy’s To Open In Fire-Gutted Soma Digs

Oh my freakin’ God you can’t be serious. Remember that fire that destroyed Slickety Jim, Zocalo, et cetera on the southwest corner of Main and Broadway in November? Yeah, well word is those businesses are going to be replaced with a Tim Hortons and a Wendy’s. We joked back then that the vacant addresses might pave the way for Earls or some such chain, but we never expected this. Bit of a bummer, no? From 24hrs:

Though bulldozers have yet to arrive at the corner of Kingsway and Broadway, a three-alarm blaze Christmas morning has sealed the fate for a number of businesses there.

Now, business leaders such as Jim Dreichel, a Mount Pleasant BIA board member, are fearful developers will place a priority on maximizing profit over supporting a vibrant community when plans are made to erect new buildings.

“When a developer moves in and they put in retail and market rate condos, then it’s those people [who] benefit off the backs of people who made [the neighbourhood] cool,” Dreichel said.

Restaurateur Mike Zalman, who lost Slickity Jim’s Chat ‘N Chew in November, is painfully aware that the cost of opening and operating a business in South Main will increase dramatically as the neighbourhood gentrifies.

“I enquired about the building at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway and found out it’s going to be a Tim Hortons and a Wendy’s,” he said. “It hurts. The gods of progress have started to smite Main Street.”

Started? Nuh-uh. They’re just wrapping up.

UPDATE: a reader points out that it isn’t the burned out joints that are turning into a Wendy’s and a Tim Hortons, but rather the old bank building next door. If that’s true, I’m not sure if it makes much difference to me.