When it comes to main streets, most are only a few blocks long, (maybe three or four good blocks at best), of continuous pedestrian-oriented shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, banks, fitness and health-oriented businesses.

On a recent visit to Ottawa, I was surprised to find Bank Street is pretty much one long main street - from the Bank of Canada headquarters on Wellington Street to Riverdale Avenue, i.e., from the Ottawa River to the Rideau River – a distance of almost 4 km or about 25 blocks.

While Toronto’s Younge Street is officially considered Canada’s longest “main street,” it really is much more or a “corporate” street with major building having few entrances onto the street.

It isn’t lined with small buildings with local “mom and pop” businesses along the street and residential above that is most often associated with real “main streets.”

Bank Street has all the ingredients of a successful main street, based on the recommendations of Jane Jacobs in her 1960 book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” i.e., a mix of old and new small pedestrian scale (under 10 floors) buildings with pedestrian oriented, locally owned businesses at street level. Diverse, small and local is the key to a good main street.

In reality, there are three “main streets: along Bank Street - one from the Sparks Street Mall to Catherine Street, another south of the Queensway in The Glebe community and the third south of the Rideau Canal in Old Ottawa South neighbourhood.

History

One might think the street’s name is connected to the Bank of Canada’s headquarters located since 1938 where at Bank Street begins at Wellington Street. However, given the Bank wasn’t formed until 1934, and the street name dates to the late 1800s, you would be wrong.

It is believed the name reflects the fact the road originally linked the “bank” of the Ottawa River to the “bank” of the Rideau River. Today, the road doesn’t link directly to the Ottawa River as the land north of Wellington Street has become federal Crown Land encompassing the Parliamentary Precinct including the Parliament Buildings.

Bank Street Promenade

Bank Street in the downtown has been branded as the “Bank Street Promenade” and considered by some as the city’s LGBT village. It is home to a Massine’s “Your Independent Grocer,” as well as a couple of pharmacies including a new Shopper’s Drug Mart, which are critical to meeting the everyday needs of the nearby residents.

It is also home to a diversity of restaurants, including our personal favourite “Pizzeria da Romolo” which we visited 3 times in our 11-day visit. It has not only great pizza and a wicket Caprese salad, but a great family vibe too.

For upscale dining, there is Fauna and Hanabi Japanese Cuisine. Wilf & Ada’s is a very popular breakfast, lunch and brunch spot – there was a line-up whenever we walked by.

One of the anchors on the street is “Wallack’s Art Supplies & Framing” (and its adjacent art gallery) that dates to 1939 with its Bank Street store opening in the mid-1950s. A funky new Staples store in an old red brick building includes a Bridgetown Café (a local chain of coffee shops), as well as meeting and co-workspaces. There is even a Pet Circus (pet store), which is essential for any urban main street today, with the trend for “trophy” canines being so popular.

One hidden gem on the Promenade is the Book Bazaar, packed with used books on two floors. I explored for over an hour on two occasions. I was tempted to purchase the first edition of a Salvador Dali cookbook but didn’t, however I did buy a couple of urban design books for my collection, (the subject of a future blog, no doubt).

Another hidden gem (at least for tourists) is Arlington Five café just off Bank Street at Arlington. It has a lovely bohemian ambience, good coffee and homemade baked goods.

While there, we watched with interest an employee cutting up a pumpkin to be used to make pumpkin muffins the next day.

We love the “Good Morning” cookies. The staff are super friendly and there is funky backyard patio with furniture made from wooden pallets.

The only negative about the Bank Street Promenade is there are a few sketchy sections, that might make some tourist feel uncomfortable, but we loved it.

Happy Goat Cafe in Staples Store…very cool…

Bank Street in the Glebe

You must walk through an underpass to get to The Glebe, but once on the other side you quickly see the bold, colourful GLEBE letters welcoming you. If that isn’t enough there are three coffee shops – Moraia’s, Bridgehead and Little Victories – welcoming you to sit and people watch. The Glebe is a bit more upscale than The Promenade. It has two grocery stores – a Whole Foods and a Metro; there is also the Glebe Meat Market. You know you are in a trendy street when there is a haberdashery – Mickle Macks.

Irene’s Pub has always been home to a lively local live music scene with everything from blues to jazz. It opened in 1985 as Cap’n Pinkey’s, an East Coast Maritime bar, but everyone just referred to it as Irene’s (after owner Irene Corey), so the name changed.

J.D. Adam Kitchen “if you don’t have it, people don’t need it.”

For foodies, there is Knifewear shop (Calgary-based) and J.D. Adam Kitchen Co. which is jam packed with stuff. As I said to one of the women in the store “if you don’t have it, people don’t need it.” Every urban community should have its own hardware store - the Glebe has Capital Home Hardware.

At the far south end of the street is the new mega Lansdowne Park fairgrounds redevelopment. After much controversy (the details of which read like a soap opera and is still ongoing) the old Frank Clair Stadium was torn down and a new TD Place stadium opened in 2014, surrounded by bars, restaurants, a Cineplex and a Whole Foods all at ground level with residential above.

Here you will also find an urban park linking the site to the Rideau Canal. The current controversy is to tear down the 8-year-old north-side stadium stands and rebuild them to allow for the addition of three high-rise residential towers (1,200 new homes) and a redevelopment of the urban park that has struggled to attract people (there were only a few people there at noon hour on the lovely Saturday afternoon we visited).

Some old world charm along Glebe’s main street…

Every Main Street needs a funky bookstore…

Every Main Street needs a bohemian coffee shop

Some main streets even have a haberdashery

Old South Bank Street

The first time we walked Bank Street we only got as far at the Rideau Canal and thought this must be the end. However, on a bus trip to the suburbs on another day to do some thrifting, we travelled further along Bank Street and discovered more shops on the other side of the canal. So, we had to explore it another day - and we were glad we did.

Once over the bridge you are immediately welcomed by the historic South Minister United Church and Sunnyside Public library. Wander to the next block and you could stop for a coffee at Black Squirrel Books and Espresso Bar, or perhaps enjoy a beverage at the Quinn’s Ale House.

We kept going and were rewarded with the discovery of the Oat Couture Oatmeal Café with is funky 50s lawn chair street patio on Glen Ave.

The lemon lavender loaf was very tasty and we enjoyed a lovely chat with thirty-something local about millennial life in Ottawa.

And yes, there is a pet store (Global Pet Food) and a local grocer (Cedars & Co. Food Market). Bonus for locals is Hillary’s Dry Cleaners which looks like it was an old gas station. Turns out the company dates to 1949, when Fraser Hillary started the business and is now run by John Murray and David Hillary. There are in fact 14 Hillary’s Cleaners in the Ottawa area.

Walk all the way to the end and you will reach “paradise,” well not exactly but you will find the “Chef Paradise,” founded in 1921 and in its current location since the ‘70s. It is a cornucopia of cookware with 60+ brands from Le Creuset to Zwilling, from Ooni to Vollrath. I am not a chef, but I loved the colour and all the shiny things. There is even a demonstration kitchen for classes, which if I lived in Ottawa, I would be tempted to take.

These moms were getting ready to invade the tiny Clothes Secret consignment shop. They all appeared out of nowhere as we were walking along.

Last Word

If you find yourself in Ottawa and are looking for fun local adventure, consider walking Bank Street from the Ottawa River to the Rideau River and back. You could divide it up into two or three walks or you could just bite the bullet and make a day of it.

And if you are looking for a great restaurant, be sure to drop by Pizzeria da Romolo. Tell them the guy from Calgary sent you!

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