There are plenty of reasons to come to the Essex Centre BIA. Whether you want to dine, shop, or explore, it’s all here to dig into.

About Our Businesses

Our business district provides a small-town atmosphere, where professionalism is first and foremost. The Essex Centre also looks after around 200 businesses and services located in the hub of the county, just 20 minutes from Windsor. A short drive into the heart of the county allows visitors to have a unique shopping experience that puts them in the hands of those who have mastered their crafts. The community is also remarkably diverse, featuring retail, lifestyle stores, restaurants, industry, and more. This renders the area a great place to spend the whole day in.

Unique Essex Centre Attractions

Enjoy your meal or sweet treat from beneath the shade sail now situated in the Essex Centre BIA Parkette, located on Talbot St., while playing a game on our chess tables. You can go for a walk in Sadler’s Nature Park, or take stroll down the greenway after visiting our local stores.

Learn about the area’s history (including the 1907 and 1980 explosions) via the numerous outdoor murals around town or at the Essex and Community Historical Research Society, located in the former Essex Carnegie Library. Pay tribute to veterans at the downtown cenotaph or at the recently established Essex Memorial Spitfire and Honour Wall, installed to pay tribute to RAF and RCAF WWII veterans from Essex County. This special monument is located in the Heritage Gardens Park, adjacent to the historic Essex Railway station. The park will soon be home to the Essex Centre BIA pavilion.

Shopping incentives: Essex Centre Downtown Dollars program

The BIA proudly hosted its first Essex Centre Downtown Dollars program in 2016 in conjunction with the Essex RBC. During the November sale days, $10 vouchers were sold for $8.50 – a 15 per cent discount, with the BIA covering the difference. The vouchers were usable for several months at 57 participating Essex Centre businesses!

We have plans to make the 2017 program even better! Keep your eyes peeled for details!

Events and Family-Fun

The centre hosts several events throughout the year, including the annual Classic Car Show. This year’s 20th annual show was hosted on Talbot St. in conjunction with Side Walk Sales on Saturday, July 8th, during the Essex Fun Fest.

Essex also hosts the Halloween-themed Tiny Tots parade, where local businesses and a handful of eager Essex District High School students hand out candy to youngsters. The 2017 event is set to take place on Tuesday, October 31st at 10 a.m. Admission involves the donation of two non-perishable food items to our local food banks.

This November, the Essex Centre teams up with the local Salvation Army to host the town’s tree-lighting event and Kettle Campaign kick off. Carols, horse-drawn buggy rides, and live music combine to make this holiday event extra special. As if the holiday season couldn’t get better, the ever-popular Santa Claus Parade will again be hosted in conjunction with the Windsor Parade Corporation. The 2017 parade is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Spectacular floats, coupled with the chance for youth to meet the jolly man in red, are sure to make it a magical evening.

Business Incentives

The Essex Centre works to promote the Municipality of Essex’s Community Improvement Plan, a municipal grant program offered to local establishments in the program boundary to complete upgrades, such as façade improvements, the installation of patios and cafés, signage, and accessible doors.

Find us Online!

Keep up to date with Essex Centre news, happenings, and events via online sources here.