News
& Media
Press Release
April 9, 2024
University District Announces New Retailers Opening Soon on its Retail Main Street
Hot Yoga on University District, University District Vet Clinic and Stephen Cleaners are planned to open this year meanwhile CHARCUT and Connie and John’s Pizza officially opened last week.
University District continues to develop its diverse lineup of retailers along its Retail Main Street on University Avenue NW with the addition of three exceptional retailers expected to open later this year. This summer, Stephen Cleaners will be joining the community; and this fall, Hot Yoga on University District and University District Vet Clinic are anticipated to open. In addition, Calgary’s beloved CHARCUT restaurant and Connie and John’s Pizza recently opened inside the Alt Hotel Calgary University District (The Alt Hotel).
Says Novy Cheema, President and CEO of University of Calgary Properties Group, “We embrace the exciting growth of University District and Retail Main Street with over 40 retailers and services now open and 15 more confirmed to be opening in the community later this year. Retail Main Street anchors the community and fosters a vibrant atmosphere that we look forward to further establishing with the addition of Hot Yoga on University District, University District Vet Clinic and Stephen Cleaners.”
Hot Yoga on University District, anticipated to open this fall, will be the sister location to Hot Yoga on 17th, started by Elmira Barry in 2008.
Says Elmira Barry, “Our goal is to bring the community together to connect in a yoga movement practice that brings wellness and joy. Owning and operating our 17th Ave location has been very rewarding and we look forward to offering the same services at this new location in University District.”
Hot Yoga on University District will offer a variety of hot yoga classes crafted to cultivate strength, enhance flexibility and foster a profound sense of calm and tranquility.
University District Vet Clinic is also planned to open in the community this fall. Under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Leicht and in collaboration with Mosaic Veterinary Partners (MVP), the clinic is set to be the first vet clinic in U/D and the second venture by Dr. Leicht in Calgary, showcasing his continued commitment and passion for veterinary medicine in Calgary.
Says Dr. Leicht, “University District Vet Clinic will embody the core values of care, tenacity, connection and growth. We know that University District is a close-knit community and we look forward to being a part of the great community University of Calgary Properties Group is building.”
Another great addition to the community will be Stephen Cleaners, an eco-friendly dry cleaning and laundry business. The company was first started in Calgary in 1962 by Jack Stephen and is now owned and operated by his son and daughter-in-law Mark and Amber Stephen.
Mark and Amber Stephen pictured inside one of their six existing Stephen Cleaners locations. The new University District location will be their seventh in Calgary.
Says Amber Stephen, “We are proud to offer a number of dry cleaning services including fine dry cleaning, hand-finished dress shirt, alterations and repairs and commercial uniform and linen cleaning. When looking for a home for our newest location, University District seemed like a natural fit. We love how conveniently designed the community is and think a dry cleaner will only add to that vision.”
CHARCUT, started by two of Calgary’s most celebrated chefs, Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, officially opened last week inside the Alt Hotel on University Avenue NW. This beloved restaurant’s newest location in University District was highly anticipated.
CHARCUT owners Connie DeSousa, John Jackson and Carrie Jackson inside the newly opened University District location.
In addition to CHARCUT, Connie and John’s Pizza also opened inside the Alt Hotel last week. Known as ‘pizza you want to eat,’ this is the third Connie and John’s Pizza location in Calgary and has a unique take-out window accessible from University Avenue NW.
Says CHARCUT co-founder Connie DeSousa, “It has always been a dream of mine to own and operate a successful restaurant in my home city. Starting CHARCUT, along with our other sister restaurants has been an incredible journey for John, Carrie and I and we can’t wait to continue that journey with these new locations.”
In addition to these four new retailers, Flowers and Beyond, Bronze Baxx, Pho Pham, Swish Oral Care and Sunnyhill Pediatric Clinic, Native Tongues, UNA pizza + Wine, Seed N Salt, Easy Blink Optometry, Lagree YYC and Shoppers Drug Mart are also anticipated to open in 2024.
For more information about University District, visit www.myuniversitydistrict.ca. Anticipated opening dates are dependent on various factors and are subject to change.
About University District
To the west of the University of Calgary, and overlooking the Bow River and Rocky Mountains, University District is a comprehensive 200-acre community with a bold new vision for urban life in Calgary. Through a collaborative, people-first design process, the Master Plan and thorough engagement program forged strong respect between local stakeholders and UCPG. The neighbourhood applies the best ideas in city design and incorporates the wants and needs of surrounding legacy communities – weaving current aesthetic, technology, and lifestyle options into the strong social fabric of the city. University District is the 2022 national winner of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Award for Best Growing Community.
For more information about University District, visit its Discovery Centre at 4410 University Ave. N.W., Calgary (just north of the Alberta Children’s Hospital) or go online: myuniversitydistrict.ca and visit Instagram, X, and Facebook, #UDLife.
Media Relations Contacts:
Lorna Prediger
Director of Marketing
University of Calgary Properties Group
lprediger@ucpg.ca
(403)587-5289
Rachel Redmond
Worthington PR & Story
rredmond@worthingtonpr.com
(403)305-0503