A walk around town with Sean Galloway is something we highly recommend. This is a man with a plan! Sean took us through the future ideas for downtown, including streetscape and sidewalk renovations, an urban beach at the Thames, plans to fill in some of the superfluous parking lots and his personal vision for the future… and we must say, if Sean gets his way, the future looks so bright you’re going to have to buy a pair of shades at a downtown shop!
Here’s Sean at the site of some of his downtown dreams…
Next we me with Jonathon Bancroft-Snell at his breathtaking gallery at 258 Dundas Street. Jonathon opened in Galleria Mall during its heyday and then moved to his current location. Jonathon is a true storyteller and we had a ball interviewing him. We especially loved the story of one of his fantastical customers who comes in and picks out a whole shelf of ceramics as a gift for someone and asks to have the items wrapped and ready for when he returns. Jonathon plays along with this fantasy, knowing full well that this customer will not really be returning to complete this purchase. He enjoys meeting everyone who walks into his gallery and being part of the world of downtown.
We loved this piece. It feels at home here in this spectacular downtown gallery.
In the early afternoon we met with THE David E. White. This gentleman, (and he is a true gentleman), takes care of the men of London. In his realm on Richmond, he not only has a men’s wear shop, but also a barbershop to get a cut and shave, a dry cleaners to keep it clean, and a little art gallery where you can buy a piece of art for your wife, perhaps. David spoke to us of the old days in London where there were over 50 men’s wear shops among a bustling downtown. The secret to success according to David E. White? Perseverance.
Finally, we made it out onto the street with our storymobile!!! Trading Chapmans Ice Cream for stories is our game, and many people were eager to play along. Young and old ducked inside to tell a story and 24 ice cream sandwiches later, we packed up and headed to have a pint at Joe Kools and then celebrate Londonlicious at Garlics!
