There has been so much bad press lately about the Levy Brothers and the fate of the businesses they bought en masse at Beach Area 1. Perhaps that's why there has been less attention on the good things that are happening here. For instance, we finally have a coffee shop and bakery which serves some decent espresso and yummy deserts. I had the opportunity to stop in to the Kokomo Beanz which is located next to Giant Tiger (826 Mosley Street). There is a variety of fresh looking pies and cakes as well as cookies, biscotti, muffins and lunch items like quiche and soup. 

Kokomo Beanz is smartly located right in the middle of town which makes it easy enough for people living on either side of town to visit. And for those of you who have been asking where you can get wi-fi, the cafe offers it for free to customers. The restaurant itself is clean, with a mix of tile and wood (or laminate) flooring and appropriate latte coloured paint.

After our coffee this afternoon, we drove down to beach 1 which was surprisingly busy. The Levy's bankruptcy is barely noticeable at this point in time as many of the businesses don't open in May anyhow. Still, looking at the storefronts, it's easy to tell that there will be a much smaller impact on the commercial area than has been largely reported by the shock and scare news media. Most everything looks like it will be open; and most are open already. 

There are also several new restaurants that are getting ready to open soon. A Thai Restaurant, a newly upgraded Wasaga Dairy along with others which have been open for less than a year. At Stonebridge Plaza (Wal-Mart), there is a decent Chinese Food place called "Bamboo Terrace". This has long been a pet peeve of mine that our 2 Chinese restaurants were terrible to the point of being inedible. Perhaps some good healthy competition will force a change of attitude by the older restaurants.  

Besides the usual chain restaurants like Wild Wing, Boston Pizza, Tim Horton's, McD's and the like, Wasaga Beach is beginning to attract the smaller entrepreneurs - which to me is what makes a town unique. You can go anywhere and visit a Boston Pizza, but do they have a Beverley's or a Hot Veal Hut, or Angie's Caribbean Food? Perhaps the chain restaurants are finally slowing down and the Mom & Pop places are finding their niche market right next to them. As someone who is tired of learning that the big corporate restaurants are using ingredients that don't qualify as food, the smaller restaurants who still buy their supplies the old fashioned way are doing well.

For those who like to eat healthy and enjoy familiarity, a Swiss Chalet can be found at the Stonebridge plaza. There are still some surprises as Stonebridge is still in development and more retail outlets and restaurants are due to open. 

Perhaps this is not the most mature moment of my life but I just have to address all of those negative reporters that have been heralding the demise of Wasaga Beach... poo on you! ;) Wasaga Beach is doing just fine, thank you very much.  From the ashes rises the Phoenix. Most of the locals in Wasaga Beach are relieved that the Blue Beach development saga has finally come to its inevitable conclusion. Perhaps now that the stranglehold of this company has been released, Wasaga Beach will be able to develop Beach 1 the right way, as it should have been done before these well-meaning people with grandiose dreams and limited funds got in over their heads. 

Sources:

• http://www.thestar.com/business/article/812338--wasaga-beach-scrambling-to-open-for-business
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/but-is-it-right-for-you-wasaga-dear/article698064/
• http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2557537
• http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2588387
  

Darlene Watters is the author, editor and publisher of Day At The Beach. She also operates the wasaga.com web site. Views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone, and do not represent the official positions of any organization or company who advertises on this website

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