While competition may be the key to success for many businesses, cooperation has been the key to success for Downtown Oakville.

During a period when many downtown areas in Ontario communities have fallen on hard times due to the popularity of large indoor malls, Downtown Oakville has continued to thrive thanks largely to the efforts of its merchants.

Under the guidance of the Business Improvement Area (BIA) downtown merchants and businessmen have banded together to make Downtown Oakville an example for other Ontario communities to follow.

The merchants and businessmen of the BIA along with town council and town staff have worked together over the years to ensure that Downtown Oakville has retained its historical flavor and tradition of personal service.

Working together, the merchants, businessmen and town council have planned and developed a streetscape for Downtown Oakville that reflects tile appearance of the area in the early 1900's.

Their efforts have helped create a relaxed atmosphere in Downtown Oakville where shoppers are reminded of an era well removed from the hustle and bustle of modern-day living.

"A lot of people simply enjoy spending an afternoon just wandering around Downtown Oakville even if they're not seriously looking for anything," says Julie Jelinek, manager of the downtown BIA.

One reason why much of Downtown Oakville has remained relatively unchanged through the years is because many of the store owners have remained the same.

"Many of the store owners have been the same people for the past 25 years," said Jelinek.

And that's a definite plus.

This has given the BIA the consistency and strength it requires to maintain its lonq-term plans and goals for the downtown area.

Store owners with time invested in their properties are not afraid to invest a little money.

But besides the relaxed, historical, shopping atmosphere, shoppers will also find something else that's a throwback to another era - personal service.

Recently, the downtown BIA adopted a new logo: Downtown Oakville - A Tradition of Personal Service.

The logo is not just an empty phrase, says Jelinek. It's a goal that downtown merchants strive to attain and Shoppers come to expect.

"The store owners get to know their individual shoppers and their shoppers' needs," said Jelinek.

And what many shoppers don't realize is that all their needs can be met in downtown Oakville. Within the boundaries of the downtown BIA - which roughly spans from Allan Street in the east to Navy Street in the west and from Church Street in the north to Robinson Street in the south - one can find 165 stores, 130 services and 25 restaurants.

"All sorts of shopping is available in downtown Oakville. People don't have to go to Toronto for whatever they think they need to go there for," said Jelinek. "Everything you need is here and there's no pressure."

Besides meeting their shopping needs, downtown Oakville offers a wide range and selection of personal services from doctors, optometrists, dentists, lawyers, architects, insurance agents, and banks and trust companies.

"You can very easily spend a whole day downtown and do everything you need to do," says Jelinek.

And that includes a relaxing, inexpensive lunch or an elegant expensive dinner at one of the 25 downtown cafes and restaurants.

Besides a relaxing historical atmosphere, friendly personal service, and a wide selection of goods, what else does downtown Oakville have to offer?

Would you believe bargains and competitive prices? Unfortunately, some people don't believe this and that's a shame, says Jelinek.

"Downtown has this image of being expensive and it's not," says Jelinek. "Many people are afraid to walk into a store because they think it will be expensive, but when they get inside they are pleasantly surprised when they find out it's not."

Another popular misconception is the lack of parking in downtown Oakville. With the addition of the 300-spot municipal parking garage Downtown Oakville has more than 1,000 parking spaces available.

And the merchants are trying their best to make the available parking as inexpensive as possible for shoppers.

On Saturday, all parking in the downtown municipal lots is free courtesy of the BIA, and parking is also free on the streets and in the municipal lots every night after 6 p.m. In addition, many downtown businesses are giving away one-hour parking coupons for the municipal garage to customers.

All stores are open during the regular daytime hours from Monday to Saturday and many stores are open Thursday and Friday evenings.

And the best is yet to come. In October of next year, a major addition, the Royal Exchange Market and Town Square will be introduced to Downtown Oakville.

The Royal Exchange Market, situated in the heart of Downtown Oakville on the southeast corner of Lakeshore Road West and George Street, will include a town square - which will quickly become a focal point for downtown activity - and a public market will supply fresh produce daily. Specialty boutiques offering everything from books to fashions and one-or-a-kind gifts will surround the public market area.

Courtesy of the Oakville Beaver
September 1987