Kennedy’s Lakeside Grocery store has come as a welcome addition to downtown Barrie.
The approximately 3,400-square-foot space, located at 90 Collier St., across from the MacLaren Art Gallery and Barrie City Hall on Mulcaster Street, is reminiscent of small corner markets that can be found in many city neighbourhoods. It offers a variety of fresh produce, a small butcher shop and variety of other staples.
The store, which officially opened its doors to customers on Oct. 24, is everything owner Adam Kennedy had hoped it would be when he first envisioned bringing a grocery store back to the downtown after more than a decade.
“The best part about it is now seeing everyone come in and react the way I was hoping they would react," he tells BarrieToday. "They’ve been needing this for downtown. Our community has been looking to replace what they had before.
“It’s been almost a dozen years and everyone is very receptive and very thankful.”
Kennedy, who spent more than two decades working as a supplier for grocery manufacturers before making the decision to open the store previously said he’d been investigating the idea of opening a grocery store in the city’s downtown since before Christmas 2023. He officially signed a lease this past spring.
“What we are going for, and what we’ve seen so far, is we want people to be able to come in and have a place to grab their meals and essentials, but come in four times a week,” he says. “We don’t want to see food waste or people overloading their fridges or cupboards.
"A lot of our community is in condos or apartments and are walking. We wanted to give them a space where they could come, have some community, see some of their neighbours, share recipes … more of a European feel where you’re going and grabbing things every couple of days," Kennedy adds.
Meaghan Oldershaw, who works at the front end of the store, says in the week since they’ve been open, the reception has been nothing but positive.
“Everyone has been really excited, and more often than not have said they’re so glad we are here and have changed the way (they) are interacting downtown,” she says. “The seniors in the buildings have been wonderfully supportive.”
The store carries “a little bit of everything,” said Oldershaw, adding if a customer feels there’s something the store should consider carrying, staff are open to hearing about it.
“If there’s something that has been missed that isn’t out on the shelves, we have a suggestion box and will do our best to source it and supply it for them," she says.
Nancy Santos popped into the store to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables on Wednesday morning and says having a store downtown after more than a decade “is awesome.”
Although she doesn’t live downtown, she says she is in the area quite often, and visits Saturday’s farmers' market across the street at city hall nearly every weekend.
“I love that there was a ramp as soon as I walked in, which is great and I noticed right away that they had local products which are appealing for me," Santos says. "I love to support local. I am vegan, so when I am downtown my options tend to be a little bit more limited, especially if the farmers' market is closed. I don’t really have anywhere to go and grab like a fruit snack if I wanted … This is, for me, a really good option.”
A local senior who identified herself as Lucy lives close by on Blake Street and says the Collier Street grocery store is “so much more convenient” for her.
“I won’t have to go up to No Frills,” she says.
Kennedy estimates the store has tallied up more than 1,000 transactions in its first week.
“On the first day, when we finally tore down the paper that was in the window, there were about a dozen people waiting to get in. I know there were almost 350 people that purchased that day and I know ever since it’s been about 150 people a day,” he said. “The first day was crazy. There were no less than 30 people in there at any given time and then we’ve kind of settled in for the rest of the week … and they’re doing exactly what I expected.
"They’re keeping their baskets low and going out with a bag or two. There have been a lot of thank-yous and reminders of the gap we’re filling after about a dozen years.”
