One Young (née Mayfair Hotel) | 5 fl | Complete

[KWchick]

the factories were places where ppl went to work.. could even stay for years without concern of them closing. so many of them did.  you could apply all along king street into waterloo for work!  now, even schneider's gone.. well there arent too many places left to find that kind of work.

i guess it depends on what kind of person you are and what things you like to do.. for work or socially etc.  im a blue-collar kinda gal.  so i also enjoyed the old bars.  i know lots certainly dont miss those lol and i understand why.. but.. i met alot of kind ppl there believe it or not.  regular folks mostly.. other blue collar types like myself.

as far as the new restaurants and things you mentioned.. well i dont really go to any of them. i am just saying that, for myself, most things that were familiar, and that i liked about the downtown are gone now, or soon to be gone.  i miss the way it was.  nothing to be done about that of course. just my 2 loonies' worth..

You are right ... factory jobs have disappeared (I worked at Schneider's, too, when I was young ...).  Not only downtown, but in all of Kitchener, in Ontario, in Canada -- all of the western countries.  Factories are now mostly in low-cost countries, and I doubt they will ever come back here, not in the same form.  I regret the loss of those jobs, but that won't bring them back.

Yes, the downtown has changed, and there are fewer blue-collar bars and restaurants.  There are still some, but compared to what it was 30+ years ago, there are more upscale bars/restaurants, and far more ethnic food.  That, too, is a change.  It's good for a lot of people (including me) but not so good for others (maybe you).  I do hope you find some things or places to enjoy downtown -- or somewhere else in the twin cities.

i worked there too. til a couple years ago.

i know they wont come back.. and factory work, if there is any, is usually temp or contract now anyhow.

i guess i wouldnt mind so much if i were just starting out. then i wouldnt have only factory experience. but it is all i have pretty well.

there are only a couple blue collar type bars i know of, and though i dont go out like we all used to after work fridays, i have gone a few times.
mostly i just stay home now, as do the rest of the old crew, i think.

well i cant say i really find much that interests me downtown.. perhaps the once a year car show or bluesfest. but not as a regular place to go.

but i guess it is good for some ppl, as you say.