Bank vaults have thick concrete walls with heavy steel doors that make removing them practically impossible. So, what happens when a bank closes and a new business takes over the building? Creative minds must find new uses for the immovable structures!
Let’s see what Sarnians have to say about their interesting ‘safe’ spaces.
Northern Oak Animal Hospital
125 Lakeshore Road, Sarnia
This vault at 1125 Lakeshore Road was previously used as a bank vault for the Royal Bank of Canada. We have repurposed the vault into a radiology room housing our Sedecal Vet X-ray and our Summit Red Therapy Laser. For Health Canada regulations, this room must have a barrier to contain the radiation which is typically 0.79mm lead, but in our case, the poured concrete is more than enough of a barrier. We kept the bank vault door on as we were unable to crack the code – just kidding, our contractors could not get it off with their usual tools.
The Vault Hair Studio
172 Front Street North, Sarnia
Named after its most prevalent architectural feature, The Vault Hair Studio is located in the back portion of 172 Front Street North, a space that is shared with local gift shop and gallery River Bank & Co. When owner and stylist Abigail Inkpen originally viewed the space that would become home to her business, she was able to look past the roughly hewn wooden shelving that lined the walls of the pre-confederation vault to envision a beautiful space of comfort and luxury. With the help of her father, Inkpen manually removed each splintering board and painted the inside of the vault. She rejuvenated the space with local art, furniture and custom lighting to create a welcoming environment for her salon clients to relax in while having their hair coloured.
River Bank & Co.
172 Front Street North, Sarnia
The date of 1855 is engraved on the locking mechanism, the main vault on the ground level of River Bank & Co., located at 172 Front Street North. This is one of four vaults in the building, (two used for storage in the basement, and two repurposed on the ground level). Early on the vaults were utilized by surplus retailers and grocers, eventually serving their main purpose when the building was used by TD Bank. Since 2017 River Bank & Co. has made this building their home. The vault was used as a luxe fitting room until it was transformed into the “Cutest little gallery in Ontario” in 2023. Offering locals a spot to relax while enjoying local and Canadian art, business owner Jess Butler embraces the opportunity to bolster the art community with this unique, historical space.
Alt Space, powered by TMRRW Inc.
136 Christina Street North, Sarnia
What was once a bank is now a gorgeous interior space with two vaults: one in the basement and one on the main floor. The basement vault currently sits unused while the main floor vault has a couple of purposes for the coworking space’s tenants. Need a drink? Head into the vault to access the coffee nook. How about if you need to make an important call? There’s a separate room within the vault for a call space, which is also handy if you’re also looking for a very quiet space to relax.
Does your business have a new use for a vault? Let us know at [email protected].