Groms, the young peoples sports clothing and equipment store, is holding a dramatic looking liquidation sale at its shop at 1707. Everything is papered over with signage declaring 50% off everything in the store.
You can say what you like about Hyundai, but there is just no doubt that the once funny little car company has changed its style. and it has changed minds. The South Korean firm has worked its way up to a new level of acceptance. Once known for making vehicles that didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, Hyundai now has a track record for setting the standard for reliability, quality, safety, convenience, technology and owner loyalty. It’s factual. You don’t have to like the Hyundai to acknowledge it. The 2011 Equis luxury model above is an example of the new wind blowing across the Pacific from Seoul. Among other things, Hyundai seems to understand location. It will be a brilliant coupe for Hyundai if it can locate on Laird Drive, where Gyro Mazda is now trying to place a Hyundai showroom opposite its existing dealership. All previous Hyundai posts.
It may look a bit like a sea mammal out of water but the Volkswagen XL1 concept car is going to make it to the production line. No one thought it would. And it will be the most efficient production car anywhere, the company says. Volkswagen’s Formula XL1 Concept is a plug-in hybrid, meaning that it’s capable of running on battery power alone for awhile, and then if you need the extra range, it’s got a tiny two cylinder diesel engine that can extend its range. Reportedly, it gets a staggering 260 miles per gallon. Volkswagen says that it will be producing about a hundred XL1s, to be made available first in Germany and later in the U.S.
CRTC yanks CKLN license. It’s a rather curious story of how the student station had, among other problems, “limited involvement from Ryerson’s student body” according to the attached Globe and Mail story. Otherwise, a grown up’s cynical view will find the shenanigans at CKLN to have a distinctly comical quality. The phrase “Will anyone notice” comes to mind. Here’s an excerpt from a student story written in 2009. When Ashley Stanhope walked into CKLN’s office for the last time, she wasn’t expecting a confrontation with police. After attempting to start her weekly one-hour show Wired for Sound, a woman barged into the studio, yelling erupted between other volunteers, two people barricaded themselves in a room and police were brought in to break up the debacle. “It seems bizarre when you think of it,” Stanhope said. “This would never happen at CHUM FM, it would never reach that point. It seems people are on this power trip when it comes to college radio.” For nearly two years, CKLN has been embroiled in fierce internal fighting with two groups of people claiming power over the station.
Gyro Mazda, the long-time local dealership, is applying for approvals to open a Hyundai dealership across the street from its 40-year-old business on the west side of Laird Drive. The plan would transform the northeast corner at Laird and Industirial St. (left) into a new showroom and sales facility for Hyundai cars. Hyundai, the South Korean car maker, is attempting to break out into the mainstream of North American auto buyers. But the plan has to leap some municipal hurdles. The proposed site is part of the Del truck body property. Gyro told the South Bayview Bulldog today that with regulatory approval, including re-zoning, demolition and construction, it might be more than a year before a dealership could open.
Shoppers Drug Mart is on the hunt for a new chief after it was announced Wednesday that CEO Jurgen Schreiber is quitting the drug giant. Shoppers is an anchor in every business district and street in the country. The move comes suddenly after Shoppers had it first earnings decline since 2001. During his tenure, Schreiber oversaw the somewhat revolutionary two-storey drug store format (right) at Shoppers. As is known, such a location will be installed on South Bayview in the old Bayview Playhouse. Schreiber will be replaced temporarily by Chairman David Williams, a former food retail executive, until a permanent successor is found. 
