12/01/2025
I just recently heard the comment “there is nothing in downtown Trenton”. Unfortunately I have heard it many times both on social media and in person. It literally wants to make me cry.
Do you know that many things that happen in our downtown is paid for by the over 150 businesses in the downtown core? We 100% fund the beautiful flowers you see in summer and winter. We pay for the wagon rides that many of you will take your kids and grandkids on next month. We fund almost all of Festival on the Bay including paying for the pyrotechnics person that is responsible for the beautiful fireworks donated by Mystical Distributing. Those are the big ones. We fund the office that promotes our downtown everyday whether on social media or through all the smaller events that are ran. A board made up of downtown merchants volunteer their time to oversee all of this.
This is not the city (or taxpayer dollars)that pays for all of these things, it is an extra levy that we downtown businesses pay that 100% funds all Downtown Trenton activities.
Here’s what I see in our downtown. A couple of really cute places to have a coffee or sandwich with friends. Check out Kaleidoscope, Beats & Sweets or The Grind and Vine. Lunch or dinner, how about Tomasso’s, The Counter, George’s, Tigers or Buritto Guys. Looking for a gift or home decor Wish, Larocque, J&B or Philosophy. Clothing of course Vivacious, Red Shark or Sox it to Me. That collectible, unique gift or book check out The Geek Shack or the iconic J&B Books. Jewelry, it has to be Bruinix (over 50 yrs in business!). Drinks and entertainment you need to go to the Cardinal or Sticks & Stones. It’s easy to grab pizza at either Pizza Pizza, Jim’s or 241! And film.ca has invested in our theatre and it’s up and running again. Flowers - your needs are met at Blush Floral, Bridal - Lily’s Bridal. Art - have you checked out These 4 Walls where the local art displays change every month, where they have classes and run entertainment events? There is even a new cafe, Cafe au Play where you can drop your kids off and run those downtown errands. Need your hair done - Sally’s or Salon Eleven are awesome. To pamper yourself - Hidden Gem Day Spa, Bliss, O2 Oxygen, Trenton Beauty Bar. These are the small independent businesses. There are also corporate stores that you can visit like Dollar Tree, Bargain Club, Metro or Shoppers Drug Mart!
Hmmm…. How many businesses did I name above? And that doesn’t include the service businesses that you need to use, or parks like Fraser Park, Riverfront Square or the marina.
The downtown businesses are paying for a lot of what you see and experience in our downtown but that can only be done if you support those businesses.
So next month when you are riding the free wagon rides or admiring the beautiful holiday floral baskets as you drive through town, or next year when you are enjoying the food and entertainment of festival on the bay remember who is responsible to bring these to you and ask yourself when was the last time I supported any of the downtown businesses.
