Interviews

Crump: City Should Offer Red-Tape Navigation

Earth to Table Bread Bar owner Jeff Crump has some suggestions for how the City can make it easier for entrepreneurs to invest in Hamilton.

By Ryan McGreal
Published April 27, 2011

Earlier this month, Jeff Crump, chef and owner of the Earth to Table Bread Bar on Locke Street posted a cri-du-coeur on twitter:

Would love to open 2nd Bread Bar but the thought of dealing with the city....

Curious for details of what he experienced, we contacted Jeff and asked him to share his thoughts on how well the City works with entrepreneurs and what it could do to make Hamilton a more attractive place to start a business.

Inside the Earth to Table Bread Bar (RTH file photo)
Inside the Earth to Table Bread Bar (RTH file photo)

Interview

Ryan McGreal, Raise the Hammer (RTH): What do you think is the biggest obstacle to starting a new business in Hamilton?

Jeff Crump, Earth to Table (JC): My business experience is only with Hamilton so I can't comment on the difference between this or that city. I believe the hardest obstacle is the age-old one of money. In relation to dealing with the city, time is money, delays cost money, so entrepreneurs must be prepared.

RTH: What should the City be doing differently to make it easier for entrepreneurs and investors?

JC: I believe the city should offer navigation of the "red-tape" as a service. The different departments seem to be disconnected.

Opening a business is incredibly stressful and time consuming. Spending time and energy trying to navigate the different departments in order to satisfy code and occupancy requirements was most frustrating.

At times I felt like my relationship with the city was a bit combative. I know the city employees that I was dealing with had the best intentions but I just felt it could have been much more seamless.

RTH: What advice do you have for other would-be entrepreneurs looking to invest in Hamilton?

JC: Hamilton is a great city, full of vibrant, progressive people. It seems like a cliché now but we don't give ourselves enough credit.

From a restaurateur's view, this city is begging for more great food. Bread Bar has been so well received we are just thrilled to be part of the evolution of the Hamilton food scene.

My advice to would-be restaurateurs? Cook real food! Hamilton is starving for it.

If you can budget for it, hire a fixer (someone who is familiar working with the different city departments). I met more than my share while I was sitting at city hall, arms full of building plans, permit applications and fee cheques.

RTH: If you do decide to go ahead with a second store, what locations do you have in mind?

JC: Hamilton has so many interesting locations and neighborhoods. We spent the better part of a year looking for the first location. Locke Street was the best fit for us at the time.

The locations we scouted were:

  1. James St North - the art scene is something to embrace
  2. Ancaster (on Wilson Street)
  3. King street in Dundas
  4. Westdale
  5. Ottawa Street - we love the farmers market there!

So those are still on our list.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

21 Comments

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By Steve (registered) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 11:52:55

Thanks for the interview Ryan. Jeff doesn't seem as jaded as some of the others I've heard about when dealing with the city. It's unfortunate Jeff needed to recommend the "fixers" vs. a city employed fixer who can run you through the system and help you get around roadblocks. From what I've heard the "fixers" have developed quite a lucrative trade within City Hall.

My vote is for Ottawa Street. We used to buy bread and pies from Bettina at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market every weekend a couple of summers ago, and really miss her absence with the opening of the Bread Bar.

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By Fred Street (anonymous) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 12:21:39 in reply to Comment 62787

From my totally uniformed perspective, James North and Westdale seem be too immediate. Ottawa North would be an affordable alternative to the obvious: Ancaster (ridiculously starved for decent food options) and Dundas (becoming a gourmet haven), both of which have desirable consumer demographics. And real estate prices to match, which was surely part of the Locke South algebra.

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By jason (registered) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 12:51:25

I'd vote for James North #1 and King St Dundas #2. Thx for the interview Ryan.

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By WarderTrois (anonymous) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 13:34:53

How about at the corner of Cannon and Victoria, there is a big building for sale there.

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By mattjelly (registered) - website | Posted April 27, 2011 at 14:16:06

Which building is for sale?

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By Fred Street (anonymous) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 14:38:23 in reply to Comment 62788

Ancaster/Dundas may have another geographic advantage over James N/Ottawa. Detour is twice as close to the Mill as Mulberry is, for example, and marginally closer than MDJ. If you assume that the principals would be overseeing two businesses as well as the Mill kitchen, that might be a valuable distinction.

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By rednic (registered) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 16:22:28 in reply to Comment 62795

nothing on that corner ... could be king and victoria but that one sold ...

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By One Stopper (anonymous) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 17:54:12

After reading this interview I can only assume the "one stop shop" did not get accomplished? If that is the case, who should be held accountable for the failure?

We spent a significant of money to ensure Economic Development was a "one stop shop".

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/187345--an-economic-development-makeover

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By Michelle Martin (registered) - website | Posted April 27, 2011 at 18:19:46

Ottawa St., please. Speaking purely from self-interest, of course.

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By TnT (registered) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 19:33:46

I live at Cannon and Victoria and the only building is a Korean place and Bunny Rugz pawn shop (to be kind I'll call it that). I would love someone progressive to buy it, but it would take more remedation then West Harbour.

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By rednic (registered) | Posted April 27, 2011 at 19:59:37 in reply to Comment 62802

Acutually the korean place has good food ... and i lived in chinatown toronto for 20 years ..

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By Shempatolla (registered) - website | Posted April 27, 2011 at 21:28:18 in reply to Comment 62795

Matt I think the building is at the corner of Cannon and Elgin. Travelling west on Cannon it is on the south side just before the food bank.

Very large building, prime for residential redevelopment. I think it was a garment factory or something at one time. Needs work though. Its in rough shape.

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By Ezaki Glico (anonymous) | Posted April 28, 2011 at 10:04:15 in reply to Comment 62803

KOREA HOUSE!

Thanks for the dinner inspiration!

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By TnT (registered) | Posted April 29, 2011 at 14:12:30 in reply to Comment 62807

Korea House Korea House Nobody ever went to class...

(sang to tune of Animal House.)

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By Boo (anonymous) | Posted May 01, 2011 at 16:37:36

Booo!

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By Tipster (anonymous) | Posted May 01, 2011 at 16:40:21 in reply to Comment 62795

A tip is that Ward 3 is going to be the hottest place to invest over the next five years.

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By jason (registered) | Posted May 10, 2011 at 14:24:20

The nonsense continues:

NàRoma Pizza Bar "The wait continues for the opening of NaRoma Pizza Bar because of city regulations. The oven had to be moved 16 inches to the left .... how are you"

From Facebook: http://goo.gl/JDNfD

Comment edited by jason on 2011-05-10 14:24:58

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By Capitalist (anonymous) | Posted May 10, 2011 at 16:12:03

In fairness to the city I think that they have made some improvements in this area. Although not enough. Businesses should not have to employ someone to help them go through city beaurocracy - that's the city's job!

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By Flip Shanty (anonymous) | Posted May 11, 2011 at 15:35:30 in reply to Comment 62908

"Buy low, sell high" is definitely a classic.

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By TSRitchie (anonymous) | Posted May 15, 2011 at 00:03:16

This is something I've discovered as well. It seems generally people want to help, but the helpful people lack the authority to do what is needed.

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By UrbanReFool (anonymous) | Posted May 16, 2011 at 03:35:35

No place, especially a place like Hamilton, should have the insane amount of red tape & more contradictory red tape that exists here. Hamilton's reputation proceeds it. Business is being chased away by the horror stories (Except that horror stories are fiction, & our rules, regs, & by laws are not.)
We don't need 'facilitators'. We need a city that is interested in growth, that has clear & available & transparent rules for opening businesses with the GHA.
Hamilton clearly is not interested in doing that. So what is it interested in?

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