Ottawa Street BIA

Our BIA

Ottawa Street is Hamilton’s Destination for Inspiration.

The Ottawa Street BIA is a collective voice that represents the unique needs of the community and aims to create a vibrant and sustainable business, cultural and residential environment. The association is committed to improving and promoting Ottawa Street through investment and advocacy to further its position as Hamilton’s Destination for Inspiration. Our vision is to create a vibrant and inclusive shopping district and residential community in Hamilton’s East End.

Colourful spools of fabric.

About

The Ottawa Street Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a nonprofit association established in 1985. The Ottawa Street BIA runs from Main Street to Barton and is located in the Heart of Hamilton’s East End. It is made up of more than 100 businesses and property owners offering a unique mix of retail, goods, and services. The BIA promotes Ottawa Street as the vibrant and eclectic commercial, retail, residential, and entertainment spot, attracting more people to live, shop, work and gather.

Ottawa Street’s distinct character has attracted a variety of fabric and home-decorating businesses throughout the years as it continually strives to re-invent itself. Today, a recent influx of antique stores, more eclectic retail offerings and eateries continue to keep Ottawa Street pertinent.

Our intention is to improve business within the BIA area through beautification, promotion, advocating on behalf of its members, and improving tourism. Some benefits include the improvement of the physical environment, including parking, benches, flowers, planters, special street lighting, improved streetscapes, art and beautification projects. We strive to work annually with local artists to create placemaking projects that reflect our beliefs and ideals.

A large part of what we do is the marketing and promotion of the area as a business and shopping community. These marketing and promotion efforts can include organizing community events, public relations programs, and advertising campaigns. Advocating on behalf of its members at Council meetings, seminars, and public meetings. During these events, activations and programs we focus on hiring local entertainers, performers, musicians, artists, etc to enhance the experience. All our events are non-profit and free to attend for everyone.

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Business Directory

Ottawa Street North businesses, hours and contact information.

Find a Business
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Events

Halloween Haunt

Dress up and make your way down to Ottawa Street North for a scary good time trick or treating, attending free children’s programming, and exploring our shops and restaurants. Participate […]

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Hamilton Day

Join us for this city-wide shopping campaign. Pick up your Ottawa Street North Hamilton Day Passport at the BIA office, or one of our many shops/restaurants, to receive exclusive discounts, […]

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Holiday Cheer

Gather your friends and family, and head to Holiday Cheer, happening December 7th on Ottawa Street North. Stop in to one of our hot chocolate stations, take a free wagon […]

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Subscribe

Subscribe here for community updates about Ottawa Street North including events, beautification projects, public announcements, and more. Note that your information will be kept confidential and will be used for no outside purposes and by no one else but the Ottawa Street BIA.

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Headed to Ottawa Street North? 

Bring your nonperishable food items or cash donations to 3 Britannia Avenue. We are collecting for Niwasa Hamilton!

Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg is a not for profit charitable Indigenous organization that provides high quality programs and services across the entire life cycle.

#niwasa #foodbank #bringyournonperishables
Saturday:🎶 The Vaudevillian will fill Ottawa Street with the sounds of their 1930's Jug band Ragtime Blues and a FREE musical washboard workshop on Saturday!

12:30pm-1:00pm Musical Performance
1:30pm-2:15pm FREE Washboard Workshop (all supplies included)
2:30pm-3:00pm Music Performance
Location: East Kiwanis Parkette (Ottawa St N at Edinburgh)

#musicalwashboard #freeevent
#free #freeactivities #hamont #crownpoint #thevaudevillian #jugband #ottawastreetnorth #sidewalksale #craftcraft #supportsmallbusiness #localvendors #communityevent #thevaudevillian #shoplocal
How are you getting to Craft Crawl? 🚲

Join us this Saturday at our Annual Sidewalk Sale for a day of shopping, exploring and connecting. 

@hamontbikeshare has generously offered our community a FREE ride to Ottawa Street.

Use our promo code SEPT28 

There are MANY bike stations all over Hamilton. You can view their bike map here: www.hamilton.socialbicycles.com

How to redeem a $5 Promo code: 
1. Open the Social Bicycles App and click the account icon in the top right corner
2. Click the top section where it says Hamilton Bike Share and has the balance information
3. Below credit card information, click “Add promo code” (in blue text)
4. Type in the promo code (SEPT28) and click apply.
#ottawastreetnorth #onlyonottawast #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #hamiltonbikeshare #bikeride #bikes
Saturday September 28th from 10am-4pm join us on Ottawa Street North for a day full of shopping, free activities, music and more. 🎉

The Vaudevillian will fill Ottawa Street with the sounds of their 1930's Jug Band Ragtime Blues and a FREE musical washboard workshop! (Location: East Kiwanis Parkette, at Ottawa St N at Edinburgh A.)

12:30pm-1:00pm Musical Performance
1:30pm-2:15pm FREE Washboard Workshop (all supplies included)
2:30pm-3:00pm Music Performance

Come lounge in a hammock set up on Edinburgh or Britannia, participate in a street wide scavenger hunt, join us for free crafts, play a round of corn hole with your friends, grab something to eat, and shop all the amazing sales, experiences and markets Ottawa Street has to offer. 

 #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #shoplocal #sidewalksale #thevaudevillian #communityevent #localvendors #craftcraft #onlyonottawastreet #shopsmall #crafts #crafty #local #handmade #homemade #vendormarket #craftcrawl
When’s the last time you took a stroll down Ottawa Street?🚶‍♂️🛍️

Don’t miss the excitement on Ottawa Street North this Saturday during our annual sidewalk sale, running 10am-4pm. 🗓️ Mark it on your calendar now✍️

Support local businesses, check out the pop-up markets along the street, discover hidden gems, and indulge in delicious food. 

Thank you @ctmedia18 for the video you captured of some of our street! 📹
#ottawastreetnorth #onlyonottawast #supportsmallbusiness #shoplocal #shopsmall #supportlocal #supportlocalbusiness #hamont
🎉✨Join us for our Annual Sidewalk Sale on Ottawa Street North September 28th! This year’s theme, “Craft Crawl,” will feature a local vendor pop-up market showcasing exceptional handmade goods and unique finds. 🎨🪡🧶

Discover incredible street-wide sales from your favourite Ottawa Street North businesses and connect with your community while enjoying free activities and live music.

 🎶 The Vaudevillian will fill Ottawa Street with the sounds of their 1930's Jugband Ragtime Blues and a FREE musical washboard workshop!

12:30-1:00pm Musical Performance

1:30-2:15pm FREE Washboard Workshop (all supplies included)

2:30pm-3:00pm Music Performance

Location: East Kiwanis Parkette (Ottawa St N at Edinburgh)

Support small businesses, find fantastic deals, and immerse yourself in a day filled with community and #supportlocal spirit! 🛍️🌟 

#ottawastreetnorth #sidewalksale #craftcraft #supportsmallbusiness #localvendors #communityevent #thevaudevillian #shoplocal
Craft Crawl 2024🎉
Join us September 28th for our annual Sidewalk Sale, 10:00am-4:00pm.

Ottawa Street North businesses will be set up waiting to share their finds, foods and services with you. 

Come take a stroll down Ottawa Street North and explore all that we have to offer. Let us be your destination for inspiration!

This year we are inviting homemade/handmade/crafty small businesses to join our FREE vendor market. 

Family friendly activities and workshops will be provided on street all day, including @thevaudevillian offering their musical talents and a free community workshop! You wont want to miss this!

Are you a local small business looking to join as a vendor? Complete the application here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKKI5siUeTpNskOa2vv0rU8Uiznp_Lpcn4mhNlu99AZ8qPWg/viewform?usp=sf_link

All questions can be forward to info@shopottawastreet.com

See you soon!
#sidewalksale #ottawastreetnorth #craftcrawl #shoplocal #shopsmall #vendormarket #crafts #crafty #handmade #homemade #local #onlyonottawastreet