Whenever I return to my hometown, I can’t help but be shocked with how much it has changed.
Every visit, I notice one more thing that wasn’t there during my last trip: An entire new subdivision where a childhood friend’s house used to be, a condo building on what used to be just empty land, or a large plaza with even more retail shops.
A recent visit to Midland and Penetanguishene, where I worked for many years, elicited a similar reaction. Where did this roundabout come from?! A new neighbourhood and new retail buildings, none of which were there the last time I travelled up that way?
Well, the same can be said about Barrie these days. At nearly every turn, there is a sign of construction — much of which is prompting online guessing games as to what might be moving into the area. Will we get an IKEA? A Michaels in the north end of the city? What new restaurant might be coming?
Along Bayfield Street, that includes a facelift to Bayfield Mall, which has long been a bit of an eyesore. According to one tenant there, the plan is to update the exterior and turn the inside of the not particularly full building into an indoor storage facility. Those who want to remain would only be accessed via exterior doors, said the tenant.
According to the City of Barrie’s website, plans are underway at 400 Bayfield (aka Kozlov Mall) for a new six-tenant commercial building within the existing parking lot, which, according to the details online, will include a new Popeyes Restaurant complete with a drive-thru.
A little farther north, two new buildings have been going up in the parking lot of Georgian Mall.
Despite multiple attempts to find out exactly what will be located there over recent months — to which I have only heard the echoing sound of crickets — what residents can expect is still merely speculation at this point, unfortunately.
According to the development section on the city’s website, the two projects were fully approved on April 26, and will include “one new commercial building within the existing parking lot and a new restaurant within the existing parking lot.” But that’s the extent of the details.
Travelling a few blocks farther north along Bayfield Street toward Hamner Street, what has been a couple of boarded-up old buildings that were previously home to End of the Roll, if my memory serves me right, will “soon” be home to a new Klassic Car Wash location.
However, unlike my attempts to find out what’s going on in some of those other spots (and you would think they'd want to let people know), officials with the car-wash business were more than happy to share the news about helping breathe some life back into the area at the top end of Bayfield.
“We’re thrilled to announce our new Klassic Car Wash location on Bayfield Street, where the former End of the Roll was. This site was chosen for its great visibility and accessibility, making it a perfect fit for our services,” officials said. “We’re excited to offer our complete car-care program at this new location, ensuring every customer leaves with a vehicle that looks and feels its best. We anticipate that the site will be ready by next summer.”
So there's that.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, we can now confirm plans for the long-empty Uncle Bob's County Buffet in the Wellington Street Plaza. Despite online pleas for a Michael's store or even the return of a video rental store (perhaps tongue in cheek...?), the former restaurant is set to be the newest location for One Eyed Jack Bar and Grill.
Officials with the chain confirmed this week they are working on the newest location in Barrie in the Wellington Street Plaza. They are targeting a January 2025 opening.
So, whether it’s a new fast-food restaurant, retail stores or car wash — or simply gussying up an old and not-so-attractive building — it’s nice to see new life being breathed into some old areas that, until recently, seem to have fallen to the wayside.
Until construction is complete, though, I suppose we will just have to continue to speculate and hope that our favourite shop will be included.
Nikki Cole is a staff reporter at BarrieToday.
