“Suddenly more chic than shabby, Main Street Newmarket is undergoing an exciting renaissance.
Trendy boutiques, unique products ranging from exquisite hand-crafted jewelry to scrumptious imported chocolates, antiques, art and a newly opened upscale restaurant are just some of the reasons to venture downtown these days.
After decades of struggling against the lure of Upper Canada Mall and Yonge Street’s big box stores, the beleaguered town centre is coming into its own once again, marking a consumer trend favouring more personalized service and one-of-a-kind products.
The welcoming smiles of store owners as you open their doors, the sidewalks adorned with colourful, overflowing flower baskets, gaily fluttering Canadian flags and friendly passersby perhaps speak to something more important: a backlash against the cookie-cutter anonymity of suburbia that is heralding the return of Main Street as the heart of the community, not only here, but across the country.
Newmarket Town Councillor Bob Kwapis, whose ward includes the downtown area, is a tireless cheerleader for the emerging centre.
“I have lived in Newmarket most of my life, no other place I want to be. I have seen the downtown in all its cycles and it makes me proud of the way it has evolved now. I think it has become the “go to” place for dining out in the Newmarket area.” – Reece V., Newmarket, ON (tripadvisor.ca)