In 2015, while serving as Chair of the Port Dalhousie Business Association, I developed a vision for 9 and 15 Lock Street and I set out to build a plan to acquire the properties and redevelop them. 9 Lock Street was the original CIBC bank in Port Dalhousie and was being used as a basic office. 15 Lock Street had been known for a generation as the Lion Tavern, however, it had been vacant and in condemned disrepair for several years at the time it was acquired. It had been subject to a fire, flooding, and years of neglect as a vacant seemingly abandoned building.
My original business model was based on having a high-end artisan coffee shop, and very specifically a Balzac’s Coffee in 9 Lock to anchor the project. 15 Lock Street would then house a farm-to-table local artisan bistro/bakery, an Ontario craft beer and VQA wine, bar and my own aktiv-lifestyle triathlon and multisport retail store.
The craft beer bar instead became Lock Street Brewing Company and the bistro is now CHZ PLZ. The brewery expanded already to take over one of the retail units and what used to be Trysport Niagara is now a real estate office. As of 2020 the third floor of 15 Lock Street is now complete and hosts more office space. Between the two buildings I host 5 commercial tenants.
Lock Street Brewing Company was founded almost out of necessity as it was the cornerstone of the Wellington at Port. While developing the site I took on the challenge of starting the brewery instead of waiting for the appropriate tenant. It was important to me how the space was used and how it related to the other tenants in the project. The focus was on creating a space where people could enjoy “time” and do it with an all-natural, handmade product. I was looking for that balance of healthy and active living. I wanted to provide a space for those people who enjoy an active lifestyle but who also enjoy the other finer points in life that are better when the space, food, and drinks are unique, historic, all-natural and handmade.
Welcome to the Wolf of Lock Street Podcast!
Meet Mayor Walter Sendzik and learn about the value of mentors, leadership, and exploring entrepreneurship.
Welcome to the Wolf of Lock Street Podcast!
Meet Mayor Walter Sendzik and learn about the value of mentors, leadership, and exploring entrepreneurship.
Aktiv Life Inc. is my personal corporation that I used to operate Trysport Niagara, a triathlon retail store, and my Aktiv brand. The Aktiv brand included race events such as trail running and open water swim series compete with our own chip timing system. I designed and produced carbon figure road bikes and cylco-cross bikes, carbon bottle cages, and other bike accessories. Under the Aktiv brand I also produced custom event tents, swim buoys for race events, and also got into slim-fit, high-end, men’s t-shirts.
Today I use this corp for all my consulting work such as my contract as Chief Experience Officer for Megalomaniac Winery, and my REALTOR work with Royal Lepage.
Essentially, Aktiv Life Inc., embodies my personality and allows me to explore all my different entrepreneurial interests.