Nash Jewellers may be gone, but Mike Manuel is busy building a new downtown anchor, reflecting downtown’s shift from retail to food, entertainment and cultural attractions.

The owner of London Music Hall is rebuilding on both sides of his entertainment venue.

An A & W franchise is opening June 5 at 176-78 Dundas St., the building to the east of the music hall.

On the west side of the hall, work is underway to convert the former Nash Jewellers into a music incubator and a music hall of fame that will be named for legendary London music producer Jack Richardson.

“We are trapped in the middle, construction on the right, construction on the left — but that’s not a bad thing for us, or the downtown,” Manuel said.

The opening of an A & W in the core shows national chains have renewed confidence in downtown London, he said.

“Downtown is being looked at as somewhere worth investing in, and we are happy to do our part.”

Concert patrons won’t have to leave the London Music Hall to order at the A & W because they will be connected by direct interior access.

The A &W location had been occupied by a Tim Hortons franchise. But last year franchisees Chris and Sue Sparling moved next door to a larger space, formerly the Mascot Restaurant. Zoup! another national chain, opened a new franchise location at Queens Avenue and Richmond Street earlier this month.

On the east side Manuel took over ownership of the former Nash Jewellers store six months ago but the Nash company officially moved out last Saturday.

The Nash store in Masonville also closed last week to prepare for the opening June 6 of the new Nash Jewellers store at Oxford Street and Wonderland Road.

Manuel said he has been working with a partner for some time to reconstruct the former Nash space as a music incubator and hall of fame. A formal announcement will be made in a few weeks.

The hall will showcase music talent in the London area and be named after Jack Richardson, a former Fanshawe College professor who produced albums for rock superstars such as The Guess Who, Bob Seger and Alice Cooper. Richardson died in 2011

Manuel said he has already spoken to members of Richardson’s family who support the project.

The hall of fame and the London Music Hall box office will occupy the first floor of the former Nash building.

The second floor will house a music incubator. That doesn’t mean rehearsal space. The incubator will focus on developing the business interest of local performers.

“There’s a lot of business aspects to a band such as signing contracts, hiring a manager, touring, selling T-shirts,” Manuel said.

He said he’s confident the new venue will keep downtown alive and promote its revival.

“Culture, arts, entertainment all go together. If you build them, they will come and if the people are here, the retailers will come back.”

hdaniszewski@postmedia.com

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