Denninger's leaving Jackson Square, cites LRT construction fears

One of Jackson Square's oldest institutions is moving on.

Longtime tenant Denninger's Foods of the World is closing its doors in November.

CEO Mary Aduckiewicz told CBC News that the decision was a difficult one, but it was the right time to leave.

"It's a tough decision, but it's purely a business decision," she said.

Denninger's was one of Jackson Square's original tenants, having opened 44 years ago on Aug. 19, 1972.

So after decades through the ups and downs of downtown Hamilton, why leave now, when the future of the core looks bright?

People do not want to come anywhere near a construction zone. It's something we're very concerned about.- Denninger's CEOMaryAduckiewicz

Aduckiewicz says there are three main factors. For one, their lease is up. The second is the state of Jackson Square as a whole, she says. "The Jackson Square mall has seen better days," she said.

Third, and likely most contentiously, is the organization's feelings about LRT Aduckiewicz says. The prospect of downtown Hamilton becoming a "construction zone" influenced the company's decision to leave, she said.

"People do not want to come anywhere near a construction zone. It's something we're very concerned about," she said, adding that the company is "in favour of LRT," but would prefer to see it on Main Street instead.

Curiously, Denninger's Jackson Square locationlikely won't be affected as much as one of the company's other stores, at 284 King St. E.

• City to downtown Hamilton businesses: stay open later
• Two-thirds of city council would have to vote to reopen the LRT debate

While construction will happen around Jackson Square, it will tear up the street directly in front of that King Street location. Aduckiewicz said the company has no plans to close that store.

The $1 billion LRT system, which the province is funding and Metrolinx is building in consultation with the city, will run alternately along Main and King Streets from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle. It will also run down James Street North to the West Harbour GO station.

Allison Drennan, property manager for Jackson Square, told CBC News that they haven't heard anything about LRT concerns from any other tenant in the mall. "Denninger's didn't mention anything about that to us," she said.

She also took issue with the store's characterization of the mall.Shesaid that tenancy and traffic arenow much stronger in the mall than they wereroughly five years ago. Jackson Square now features a full scale grocery store in Nations, a newly renovated movie theatre and LCBO location, as well as a soon to open Booster Juice.

"It was completely their decision to leave," Drennan said.

Denninger's will still operate five other locations, with three in Hamilton, one in Burlington (which will be expanding) and one in Oakville, as well as a manufacturing plant in Hamilton.

Employees from the Jackson Square location will be shifted to other Denninger's stores, Aduckiewicz said.

The Jackson Square location's last day is Nov. 19.

adam.carter@cbc.ca