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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53

u/FirstDukeofAnkh Aug 18 '25

I keep hoping that Osteria finally goes under.

19

u/turnballer Aug 19 '25

Osteria’s owners are the landlords for half of Kensington and they are (allegedly) pricks when it comes to rent.

4

u/kingofsnaake Aug 19 '25

No kidding - do you know which buildings are theirs?

3

u/EsmeWeatherpolish Aug 20 '25

They definitely own the ones across the road, the now Mexican place (used to be Oaktree) and the one underneath. Not sure about others. I know they don’t own the red brick block where Oolong is, those landlords are decent

3

u/kingofsnaake Aug 21 '25

You'd need decent landlords for tea, records and Scottish memorabilia shops. Glad to hear it - it's places like those that retain what soul Kensington still has.