Jones Block was home to an eclectic mix of businesses that reflected the needs and demographics of Hintonburg. The early 20th century was a time when Hintonburg operated as a village in its own right, prior to its amalgamation with Ottawa in 1907. The commercial tenants of Jones Block played a crucial role in serving this thriving, semi-industrial community. As early as 1888, The Ottawa Journal notes Wong Sing, a Chinese laundryman, moving his business into the block—a rare mention that opens up the possibility of Chinese-Canadian commercial activity in a neighborhood often seen as homogeneously white. By 1899, other businesses, like a dry goods store and a grocery store owned by Mrs. E. Chrisley, were established within the block.

After the 1902 fire, reconstruction opened the door to even more substantial commercial investment. Mr. Wm. Stracham opened a hardware store in 1903, followed shortly by Mr. David Manchester’s clothing store. These businesses were noted in newspapers before they even opened—an indication of the anticipation and excitement surrounding the reopening of the block. An advertisement in The Ottawa Journal from 1922 shows that J.F. Duff & Co. was still operating out of the building, pointing to the long-term tenancy of businesses in the space. The block also served as a flexible space for temporary and community uses—a 1905 article describes a church holding a rummage sale in one of the vacant storefronts. By the late 1900s, a pool room tenant had moved in, and its presence sparked local debate, with some seeing it as a necessary recreational space for youth and others expressing moral opposition. Through it all, E.C. Jones remained actively involved, advocating for licenses, sidewalk repairs, and rent arrangements—showing that he was not a passive landlord, but someone deeply tied to the success and operation of the businesses in his block.