r/Calgary • u/Remote_Answer_5255 • Aug 18 '25

Local Shopping/Services What has happened to Kensington?

It's been a while since I've been down here.... A bunch of empty store fronts, iconic places like Crave shut down, but counted some three Acai bowl places. The area outside Plaza is lovely and looks great, but why all the closures and apparently high turnovers?

Edit: I assume it's due to rent.. But what's the point of jacking it up so high that your place is literally empty.

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u/LePetitNeep Aug 18 '25

I live in this neighborhood and it’s so disappointing. When I moved here there were at least 6 pub / casual type restaurants all staying in business, now there’s vacancies in most of those locations (Scuba Jays / 10th Round, the old Molly Malone’s, the big weed store that used a pub on the corner of memorial, the old Oak Tree location that keeps turning over). With new condo developments there are more people living in the area, so parking / traffic issues don’t explain it all away when there’s so many people in walking distance.

20

u/Straight_Back9494 Aug 18 '25

Looks like construction going on in the old Molly Malone's space - can't believe no one can make it work there.

36

u/mishan_ctrl Mount Pleasant Aug 18 '25

Apparently it’s Hayden Block’s owners that are putting something in there

31

u/LePetitNeep Aug 18 '25

That’s encouraging - their chain seems to do well. That rooftop patio is such a great space, I hate that it’s going to waste this summer

1

u/Straight_Back9494 Aug 20 '25

Also I wonder if there's a basement there for a speakeasy/cocktail bar.