Homes for Sale in Kitchener-Waterloo

• See The Full Interview with Triad Office Interiors
• Check Out Triad Office Interiors

We had the chance to speak with Nitika, from Triad Office Interiors about what it’s like being a business in the downtown core.Triad Office Interiors specializes in office design and carries a range of office furniture.

Triad Office Interiors is in a great part of the city. The advantage in being downtown is all about proximity. You get to be near so many things, and as the city develops, you’re near that many more things.

Triad has been working alongside Manulife in developing the office space for their Innovation Hub, while also tackling creative eco-friendly furniture projects like the Generation Chair, an office chair made out of 100% recycled material.

Nitika says you can see that office culture is changing and in the process of modernizing itself. Companies are making a push to upgrade, and you can see workspaces from as far back as the 70s and 80s now being switched to a more modern setup.

It’s interesting to note how companies are using space differently now versus before. The trend is to opt for less space, but make better use of it. Squarefootage per person is reduced compared to previous decades, more than one person may use the same desk or spot, and access to power outlets is now more important than ever.

Triad Office Interiors is located at 40 Weber St E, near the intersection of Weber and Frederick. This is a fantastic area, falling in the Central Frederick neighbourhood: all within a block, you can find the downtown branch of the Kitchener Public Library (beautifully renovated recently, and host to a diverse array of events of the year); the precious Registry Theatre; the delightful Kitchener Market; and even the Cat Hospital of Kitchener-Waterloo for when your feline isn’t feelin’ fine.

If you want to read more about the Central Frederick area in Kitchener, you can see our in depth article here.

• See The Full Interview with Redline Conditioning
• Checkout Redline Conditioning

Redline Conditioning is a training facility and fitness centre located near Downtown Kitchener, and it’s a great place for kids and adults alike. Training opportunities here include preparation for specific sports, including fantastic on- and off-ice training for hockey, their speciality.

Redline owner Brandon Merli is a former OHL Kitchener Rangers player and their current Director of Sports Science and Development Coach, and Vinny Merante, whom we interviewed, played as a goaltender for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and now serves as their Assistant Coach (Go Hawks Go!). There is also functional fitness: weightlifting, conditioning, and general exercises, with classes running 5 times a day.

In terms of range, there are plenty of options for youths (open to kids as young as 6) all the way up to professional athletes (even in full team sessions, one of Vinny’s favourite opportunities). Redline Conditioning is the place to go if you want to not only get better at your sport, but also lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, become more confident, and develop athletic and life skills with the support of Redline’s experienced and passionate trainers and coaches.

Redline Conditioning stands at 675 Queen St. S. #110, right across from Woodside Park. It’s a short way from several predominantly suburban-style neighbourhoods (Southdale, for example) and the various neighbourhoods of Downtown Kitchener (particularly the charming Cherry Hill).

Redline Conditioning values the diversity and growth of the surrounding area (and Kitchener in general), and Vinny notes that they have the best of both worlds in many ways: it’s a business in a fairly large city that’s not quite so large as to feel too large. The Waterloo Region, and, indeed, Redline Conditioning’s own location, offers thriving urban areas, suburban neighbourhoods, and beautiful green spaces (sometimes one after the other).

Redline Conditioning is also near one of the most beautiful parts of Kitchener: Victoria Park. What better way to cool down after a training session than a stroll around Victoria Park Lake. Furthermore, it’s an area with marked growth, rejuvenation and development, from the LRT to brand new condos and a plethora of new restaurants and shops.

• See The Full Interview with Le Prix Fashion & Consulting
• Check Out Le Prix Fashion & Consulting

Le Prix Fashion & Consulting is a clothing store and fashion consulting service in Downtown Kitchener. It started in 2012, initially as an online store, and has grown to include a full downtown storefront, along with several popup shops around the city.

Robyn brings in clothing and accessories from all over the world to feature in her shop. It’s possible to order online from anywhere, however, she says the magic is when you get to see it in person.

Those who come to the store always have first dibs on the newest items. There is the benefit of being able to see and try on the clothing, and of course, Robyn is there to lend her expertise as a fashion consultant.

She is an advocate for style as well as sustainability. Le Prix features sustainably made clothing and zero waste products, while also encouraging environmentally conscious shopping.

Le Prix recently started taking on clothing donations, and has implemented a vintage bin that acts like an ongoing clothing swap.

Minimizing waste is an increasingly important aspect of any industry, and consumers are also turning toward more responsible shopping.

Indeed, downtown Kitchener itself has made great strides toward environmental friendliness. Localized amenities, pedestrian-centred designs, and community events are some of the primary examples.

Robyn is tuned into that, and as a proud member of the downtown community, she is here to create an excellent blend of elegance and sustainability.

You can read more about Downtown Kitchener here.

• See The Full Interview with Grand River Rocks
• Check Out Grand River Rocks

When you see the word “Grr” the tendency might be to imagine someone grumpy, but would you believe me if I said it could also mean something grand? Something, indeed, that rocks? GRR, in this instance, is an acronym referring to none other than Grand River Rocks, the grandest, greatest, and least grumpy rock climbing gym in the whole wide Waterloo Region.

In the 14,000 square feet of space of their Kitchener location (18,000 square feet of climbing), the opportunities are incredible.

They range from accessible to beginners and youths all the way up to competitions for seasoned veterans (styles range from lead-climbing to bouldering, with much more to choose from). There are classes for those looking to learn better technique, youth programs and female programming, and both come recommended from Grand River Rocks’ Taylor.

And for those looking to party… you can host a party here. In case GRR is looking for a birthday slogan: “A little older? Climb a boulder!” Not only is Grand River Rocks Kitchener a great facility for anyone looking for fitness or fun, but it also has a pretty great location within the city. Standing at 50 Borden Ave. S. (near the intersection of King St. E. and Ottawa St. S.), it’s quite close to Downtown Kitchener but not quite in Downtown Kitchener.

This means that it’s not quite in the hustle and bustle of the downtown core, but its centrality makes it easy to get and there’s plenty other places and things to see and do nearby. Indeed, after a climb, why not check out City Café Bakery, a mere minute away?

Grand River Rocks Kitchener stands near two major arterial roads, and there are on- and off-ramps to the Conestoga Parkway (Highways 7 and 8) nearby. There are many options to get here by bus, and for those who live in nearby neighbourhoods or downtown (with over $1 Billion in condos developments coming to Downtown Kitchener, this applies to many people), it’s a pleasant walk (walking is a nice warm-up for a climb, after all ).

Perhaps most excitingly, though, is the fact that Grand River Rocks Kitchener is right on the LRT line: the Borden Station is just around the corner. Taylor noted that it’s a great development for the business, and even noticed that people tend to come in at 15-minute intervals, corresponding to the LRT schedule!

The Downtown Kitchener neighbourhoods continue to see development and growth, with new businesses popping up along with new homes and strengthening communities. South of Grand River Rocks, neighbourhoods like Eastwood and Rockway are great for those looking for a more suburban option while still maintaining access to both downtown and the Conestoga Parkway.

• See The Full Interview with Apple Self Storage
• Check Out Apple Self Storage

When it comes to moving to a new home, the moving itself might not be the apple of your eye… But fear not, because if you prepare ahead of time, it doesn’t need to be the pits. We spoke with April from Apple Self Storage in Kitchener, and she gave us some great tips for the moving process.

As a rule of thumb, when deciding on the size of storage unit to get, something like a 10×15 ft or 10×20 ft storage unit works for people who live in a medium-sized 3 bedroom home. For those living in a medium sized condo unit, a 10×10 ft storage unit should do the trick.

The most effective way to minimize the stress of packing is by making sure you plan ahead. Be kind to your future self, and allow at least one month of lead time before your moving date. You should` start by taking an inventory of what you have, so that you can plan where each item will go.

Once you’ve put items away in boxes, you should label them. It will make carrying, stacking, and ultimately unpacking, a lot easier. Last but not least, remember that decluttering and storing items away go hand in hand with staging and presenting your home in a good light. If you put unnecessary items away, it won’t just make moving easier on your end, it will also help the sale of your home.

Apple Self Storage stands at 1575 Highland Rd W, in the far northwest of Kitchener. It is in the Highland West neighbourhood, a great area that borders the Kitchener neighbourhood of Forest Heights to the South, and the City of Waterloo to the north (specifically, the Westvale neighbourhood).

This is a great place: access to both cities, close proximity to the useful Conestoga Parkway, direct connection to the Boardwalk, the Waterloo Region’s swanky new shopping, eating, and health care district, and elementary/secondary schools nearby.

Check out our article on Highland West if you’d like to know more!

• See The Full Interview with Elite Training Facility
• Check out Elite Training Facility

Continuing our journey through Kitchener-Waterloo, we stopped to speak with Dorothy and Clint from Elite Training Facility. Their gym offers a range of training programs, including individual sessions, group classes, and massage therapy as well. Elite Training Facility is located in a special part of Kitchener indeed. While the Western stretch of King St. encompasses most of downtown for now, new developments are steadily moving eastward into King St. East.

The Eastern side of King St. is a fascinating cross-section of growing businesses, buildings being renovated or repurposed, and fresh construction, mixed with residential areas featuring charming old brick homes.

As both KW residents and business owners, Dorothy and Clint have seen this town change over the years and are excited for what the future brings.

You can read our full article on the eastern side of King St. here.

• See The Full Interview with Thrift on Kent
• Check Out Thrift on Kent

Thrift on Kent is a chic, community-conscious thrift store located in downtown Kitchener. They opened in 2013 on Kent Ave, and have since grown to be a lovely boutique full of great finds.

Thrift on Kent is a non-profit organization. They are volunteer driven and work hard to fund poverty relief and restorative justice programs for the Mennonite Central Committee, both in Ontario and globally as well.

They feature a wide selection of unique items, from vintage fashion and jewelry you can find in store, to limited edition guitars or works of art you can get at silent auctions.Shopping at thrift stores means you can stumble upon interesting or rare items. It also means giving products a second life, which promotes waste-reduction and a more eco-friendly mindset.

Part of Thrift on Kent’s contribution to the community is promoting re-use of fabulous products who are looking for their next owner. This is especially important when it comes to clothing, which is an industry where a lot of avoidable waste occurs.

Their green initiatives don’t stop there, however. The entire building at 50 Kent Ave was designed and equipped to be highly efficient and environmentally friendly. The most notable features are the rainwater collection system and the 200-kilowatt solar panel array.

You can catch them at the intersection of Charles and Kent, in the bright, slick turquoise building, right across from the LRT track.

As do several of Kitchener-Waterloo’s neighbourhoods, the Mill-Courtland neighbourhood has an active Neighbourhood Association that brings the community together through events and shared goals. You can read our article about them here.

• See The Full Interview with Contrabean Roasting Company
• Check Out Contrabean Roasting Company

Taking a closer look at the Old Westmount neighbourhood, we spoke with Ron from Contrabean Roasting Company. Contrabean sources and roasts beans from around the world, searching for the highest quality, while also ensuring they were produced ethically and sustainably.

Ron is an advocate for fair wages and ethical production practices in coffee communities. He has built his business on this model, striving to support production that has a positive social and environmental impact.

What’s also interesting is the fact that it’s based out of Ron’s home in Kitchener. The home-based approach helps him lower overhead substantially. This, in turn, allows him to invest more into the quality of his product, as well as into the vetting process for the coffee suppliers he works with. This all helped shape Contrabean’s unique story within the coffee industry.

Ron knew exactly what he was looking for when he built his home in the Westmount area, and was attracted by the lifestyle it could offer. A home at the meeting point of Kitchener and Waterloo, with solar panels and ample studio space was the perfect fit for Ron and a company like Contrabean.

You can read more about the Westmount neighbourhood here.

• See The Full Interview with Dimensions in Dance
• Check Out Dimensions in Dance

One of the advantages of Kitchener-Waterloo is its positioning along the 401.Easy access to the GTA has not only helped Kitchener-Waterloo grow, but it has also given it the best of both worlds. It’s a big city with a small town feel, combining the advantages of large urban centres with the community spirit of smaller towns.

We spoke with Kimberly from Dimensions in Dance, who has been teaching dance for over 3 decades in the area. Dimensions in Dance takes on all ages and all skill levels, featuring both casual programs as well as an internationally recognized competitive program.

Kimberly’s goal is not only to teach dance, but to nurture a long lasting appreciation for the performing arts. Her students have gone to have careers on television and on stages across Canada and beyond.

Kimberly told us about how her business has grown along with KW. Her studio is strategically located in the Fairview area, which is close to multiple on- and off-ramps to the Conestoga Parkway (Highway 8). The Conestoga Parkway binds Kitchener and Waterloo together, stretching from the far north to the far south, in addition to east and west.

Highway 8 in fact turns into the 401, and it has recently seen its number of lanes expanded, making the trip to and from the GTA (or, if you’re heading west, London) even easier. Access to the 401 not only made Kimberly’s business more accessible within town, but also allowed her to branch out and attract students as far as Hailton, Burlington and the GTA.

You can read more about local highway routes (and see listings with great highway access) by reading our article here.

• See the Full Interview with Waterloo Kung Fu Academy
• Check Out Waterloo Kung Fu Academy

We spoke with David from Waterloo Kung Fu Academy about his story in the Northfield area in Waterloo.

Waterloo Kung Fu Academy is a fulltime school that teaches the art of Shaolin Kung Fu. They have programs for kids, teens, and adults, focused on training as well as instilling the discipline and mindset of Kung Fu.They also have a competitive team and a Chinese lion dance team that perform at various events in the community.

The school moved to its current location in 1997, and has seen great changes happen to the region since.

The Northfield area used to be mostly fields back then. Over time, as Waterloo expanded, and especially with the appearance of Research in Motion, the Northfield area became heavily developed.

Northfield now has great access to both universities, the Conestoga Mall Shopping Centre, RIM Park, as well as the David Johnston Research and Technology Park.

• See The Full Interview with Twice is Nice
• Check Out Twice is Nice

Twice the Man, Twice is Nice Clothing, and Fab Favourite Boutique can all be found inside the Atrium in Uptown Waterloo. Together, they form a store that fuses a clothing shop, consignment shop, and accessory boutique all into one.

We spoke with Debra, owner and serial entrepreneur. She has built this business and developed it for 26 years and counting.
Her favourite part of the store is the fact that you never know what’s going to come in next. Their consignor database boasts over 10000 entries, and bringing in a fascinating variety of high quality items.

Having been a part of Uptown for years and also working as part of the Uptown Business Association’s marketing committee, Debra has seen the changes Waterloo has been through.

She mentions an interesting parallel, having seen the implementation of a light rail transit system while working in Calgary. It’s the kind of development that can make a city more international, more diverse, and overall more refined.

Indeed, it looks like Waterloo is becoming more cosmopolitan as well. There are items being brought into consignment from all around the world, with brands of higher and higher quality.

There is an increase in younger consumers seeking out unique items, as well as an increase in environmentally conscious shopping as opposed to fast fashion.

If you’re in Waterloo, you can stop to enjoy either of the three flavours of Twice is Nice, or you can take a tour of the Atrium and see some great local shops that the Uptown core has to offer.

• See The Full Interview with Red River Early Learning Centre
• Check Out Red River Early Learning Centre

We spoke with Natasha, Waterloo resident and owner of Red River Early Learning Centre, about her thoughts on Westvale as a neighbourhood families can consider.

Red River Early Learning Centre started in 2013, based out of Natasha’s home in Westvale. They feature early learning programs for kids 1-3 years old, as well as school age programs for kids between 3 and 8.

Natasha’s programs are child-centred, focusing on providing resources and guiding children’s inner drive to pursue what they find captivating. She jokingly (and fittingly) calls it “unschool.”

Natasha talks about how everything just clicked when she first saw her current home. The neighbourhood strikes a great balance, featuring a peaceful and green suburban setting, while also being close to amenities.

Westvale has Red River Park, West Wind Park, Westvale Park, and the Hydrocut Trail all within reach. The Boardwalk stretches along Ira Needles Boulevard as the area’s main centre for shopping and entertainment.

This is complemented by community resources and family-oriented events offered by the Westvale Community Centre, along with proximity to elementary schools from both Waterloo and Catholic school boards (Westvale Public School and Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School respectively)

For a more in-depth look at Westvale, you can read our full article here.