Abstract Developments has unveiled the first three commercial tenants for its mixed-used development, Black and White.
A café, a naturopathic wellness centre, and a dentist office will occupy three of the six ground commercial spaces in the six storey Fort and Cook Street building. The development is slated to be complete in October, including occupancy of the 75 residential condo units in the building.
Bear & Joey, a 60-seat full-service café with patio will be located at the commercial space fronting onto the corner of Cook and Meares Street. Offering Australian roasted coffee, along with meals for dine-in or to-go, Bear & Joey’s menu is inspired by café experiences found in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and will offer a range of nutritious offerings, with an emphasis on gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
Along Fort Street, two tenants have been confirmed; Hydrate IV Wellness Centre will be located at 1103 Fort Street, bringing the company’s established Naturopathic Medicine offerings and Intravenous (IV) Nutrient Therapy to Black and White from its current location at 1015 Cook Street. Next door at 1105 Fort Street, established Dentist Dr. Craig Siemens is building a new general dentistry practice, bringing his more than 20 years of experience working in practices in Victoria and Vancouver. The practice will offer a complete range of dentistry services from routine fillings to aesthetic dentistry to more complex cases.
The new businesses at Black and White will join a growing list that have set up shop in the emerging Upper Fort stretch of the long established corridor that connects downtown to Fairfield and Oak Bay, bringing new products and services into an area that previously saw a high number of vacant retail and commercial spaces as the area transitioned from its former Antique Row. Due in part to the efforts of local organizations like Fabulous Fort and the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA), and initiatives like the Fort Street Parklet Project, Fort Street has transitioned to become a vibrant part of the downtown core in recent years.
“We are thrilled to be completing Black and White and welcoming these three new businesses into the Upper Fort Neighbourhood.” said Abstract Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Miller. “More than 11 years in the making, we believe this development will exceed our original vision to create a new residential and business hub at the historic Fort and Cook intersection. To see this kind of demonstrated interest and investment in this corner from three exciting businesses that will each provide meaningful products and services to residents and patrons of the neighbourhood, we are pleased with what is being created here.” added Miller.
In addition to the first three businesses to be confirmed for the ground floor space at Black and White, the company is receiving strong interest from a range of business types and hopes to confirm tenants for the remaining three commercial spaces prior to completion of the building this fall. Black and White is Abstract Developments’ 75th project to be completed in Greater Victoria.
