The lobby amenity residents actually use
Gyms go unused and party rooms get booked twice a year — but everyone runs out of something at 10pm. A Tidewater smart store gives a condo or rental building a 24/7 convenience corner that costs the strata nothing, needs no staffing, and is secure enough to pass any council vote.
Built to make a council’s decision easy
With Metro Vancouver’s rental vacancy at its highest since the late 1980s, buildings are suddenly competing to keep residents — and small daily conveniences are what people remember at renewal time.
We’ve designed the hosting arrangement around how stratas actually decide: zero cost to the corporation, our insurance, a cashless locked cabinet, a clean one-page agreement with a simple exit clause, and renders your property manager can drop straight into the council package.
Zero cost to the strata. No capital, no contract fees, no service charges — ever.
Secure by design. Locked glass door, tap-to-open, no cash inside, camera-verified transactions.
Quiet neighbour. Runs at the sound level of a household fridge; no coin mechanisms, no thudding drops.
Easy to say yes to. One-page agreement, our liability insurance, and we present to council if invited.
Residential buildings usually start with a smart cooler in the lobby or amenity floor; larger communities pair it with a snack store. The tap-grab-go experience needs no app — important for a building full of different ages and phones.
Condos & stratas — what councils ask
What will a strata council want to know?
Usually three things: cost (zero — we own and service everything), liability (we carry commercial general liability insurance and the cabinet is locked and cashless), and aesthetics (full-glass retail design, with placement renders provided for the council package).
Is it safe to put in a residential lobby?
Safer than most amenities. The cabinet only opens for a verified tap payment, holds no cash, and is camera-monitored — there's nothing inside to attract a break-in, and no coins to pry out.
What do residents actually buy?
Late-night and small-hours convenience: sparkling water, snacks, ice cream in summer, breakfast bars, the milk-run items that otherwise mean a walk to the corner store in the rain.
Can you present to our council?
Yes. We'll provide a one-page summary and renders for your council package, and join a council meeting or AGM to answer questions directly — it usually takes one session to approve.