A Kelowna small business owner say the City of Kelowna is not doing enough to help small businesses succeed in the downtown core and worries she may have to close her business in a few months.
Danielle Cross, owner of Buvez, said the city, who she rents her unit from, has been negligent in replacing her HVAC ststem, causing harsh working conditions; continuous construction has been allowed during busy season, which has given customers limited areas to park; multiple events located near or at city parks has driven potential customers to the lakefront, keeping people away from downtown to avoid the traffic. All of which have cost her thousands of dollars.
乌鸦传媒淐learly they want me out. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know why, but you don乌鸦传媒檛 treat a tenant like this unless you are trying to get them to leave,乌鸦传媒� Cross wrote in an email, also stating that the city employee denied that they want her out.
She said she doesn乌鸦传媒檛 think she will last much longer than a few months.
Mike Olsen, managing property manager for the City of Kelowna said he was surprised their was a story being written about this and views the landlord-tenant relation as a non-issue. He said the city is reaching out to Cross for a meeting.
The sommelier and entrepreneur said she considered the 315 Lawrence Ave. unit for three years before renting it. Now that the self-invested business is on its way out, she reflected on the City of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 commitment to small businesses.
乌鸦传媒淜elowna is a black hole for small- to medium-sized enterprises,乌鸦传媒� Cross said, 乌鸦传媒淭ell me how they actually support (SMEs)?乌鸦传媒�
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She said construction on the Chapman Parkade cost her approximately $5,000 in revenue over Pride weekend, as traffic was diverted from her storefront because of the limited parking. She said she understands construction needs to happen, but perhaps it should wait until shoulder season.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e either clueless or ignorant,乌鸦传媒� Cross said, claiming she never received notice of the construction.
Robert Fine, director of business and entrepreneurial development could not be reached for comment.
Larry Smith, owner of Blue Gator Bar and Grill, said 80 per cent of business is generated at night, and explained he has no problem with the nearby construction.
乌鸦传媒淚 would be more affected than anybody else,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e been pretty good.乌鸦传媒�
Downtown Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 executive director Mark Burley said construction is 乌鸦传媒渋nconvenient,乌鸦传媒� especially during summer time, but 乌鸦传媒渢hey are doing everything they can乌鸦传媒� to make sure problems are minimal and growth continues.
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Pulp Fiction owner Max Sloam said construction isn乌鸦传媒檛 affecting his business that much. For Sloam, the largest detriment to his business is the Bernard-centric mentality and the larger chain restaurants that are entering the downtown core.
乌鸦传媒淭hey seem to put most of their energy into Bernard,乌鸦传媒� said Sloam, claiming the city tends to leave out the side streets.
Sloam also said that much of his lost revenue can be attributed to the likes of Tim Hortons and other chain restaurants that have taken over part of downtown. He said Kelowna should consider the overall culture of downtown and implement a model similar to Nelson, B.C.
Most shops in Nelson乌鸦传媒檚 downtown are 乌鸦传媒渕a and pa乌鸦传媒� shops because that乌鸦传媒檚 what their residents are interested in, said Dianna Ducs, executiver director at Tourism Nelson.乌鸦传媒漈hose are the stores that do well here.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淏y keeping the locals engaged in the community 乌鸦传媒� you will see your community thrive,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Ducs said there are a few fast food chains in the outskirts of downtown, but none that intrude on the boutique experience Nelsoners have grown to love. Residents, she said, acknowledge that allowing big chains into the downtown can 乌鸦传媒渄iminish a community.乌鸦传媒�
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乌鸦传媒淒on乌鸦传媒檛 lose the heart,乌鸦传媒� Ducs said. 乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檒l never get it back.乌鸦传媒�
Ducs said Nelson has a heritage working group that enforces regulations on what signs can and cannot due to the buildings in downtown. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a simple way of keeping (chains) away,乌鸦传媒� she said, referring to a Starbucks withdrawing from a building lease because of Nelson乌鸦传媒檚 restrictions.
The heritage working group is a committee that is run by city council. Kelowna has a similar progam called the heritage advisory committee, but they could not be reached for comment.
乌鸦传媒淚f we are going to retain the flavour of downtown (the city) should take a second look at that,乌鸦传媒� Sloam said.
For Cross, the buildup of multiple issues has caused her to begin focusing her efforts on what乌鸦传媒檚 next. She said she乌鸦传媒檚 proud that Buvez lasted two years but, every day is looking more and more grave.
乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 trust (the city) at this point,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey really hurt us.乌鸦传媒�
David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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