“It was kind of grubby looking, but there was something about it.” – Caroline Jonaitis, Hamilton, ON

“It just doesn’t look as appealing to me as it used to.” – Judy Ryan, Hamilton, ON

“It felt like the eyelids had popped on all of these shops!” – Laura Ryan, Hamilton, ON

“There was a lot of vacant storefronts, and you would see people try to open up a business in some of those vacant storefronts, and they just wouldn’t survive.” – Joey Coleman, Hamilton, ON

“That neighborhood, James Street North, was our whole life. We didn’t venture out of it.” – Ron Corsini, Hamilton, ON