When a major construction project began along Dunbar Street last spring to replace aging sewer and electrical systems, Angela Dueck expected her small, street-front business would struggle to survive because customers wouldn't be able to park out front. She laid off some of her employees at Spill It Sister, a boutique women's clothing store near the intersection of 41st Avenue, in preparation for a downturn in business, and was shocked to be met with greatly increased demand instead.
"When the construction came, I gave most of my staff time off and I was in the shop alone expecting to close it for the week, and instead I was busy beyond belief," said Dueck on Saturday.
She credits the unexpected boost to an increase in pedestrian traffic from nearby residents who would previously drive past her store.
"I finally asked a lady why it was so busy and she said 'Oh, it's because I used to drive and now I walk by.' So I started asking everybody and it was all the same case. It was all neighbours west of Dunbar who were walking by. One hundred and twenty-two new customers I clocked in one week. Apart from the dust, it has been fantastic for us."
Dueck believes the City of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»probably learned lessons from the experience of Canada Line construction on Cambie Street.
"I do think that the city, given what happened on Cambie Street where they weren't working on the weekends or the long weekends, they made sure with this job that they would be. I think they've been pushing harder to get it through."
Sergio Merlin, who owns an antique store two empty storefronts up the street from Spill It Sister, said he also appreciated that construction workers were on the job from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, but he hasn't shared Dueck's increase in customers.
"It actually went better than we thought it would and they really pushed, but even still people haven't been able to park in a long time," said Merlin while having a cigarette outside his empty store. "We are down roughly 40 per cent. It has been very bad. Today [Oct. 21] is the first day we can even park here after I don't know how long."
Tan Tran, the owner of a neighbouring Bean Around the World Coffee franchise, also said his business has suffered dramatically over the past several months.
"Maybe it has been good for her, but it certainly hasn't been for us," said Tran. "Our customer base, they come and they go and they need parking spots. The bank next door has been really nice about using their parking [spots], but then they blocked the bank as well, so checkmate. My business has gone down by 50 per cent. They were supposed to finish earlier in the summer, but then they discovered an eagle's nest, so they couldn't do anything for a while. It's totally understandable, but I took a big hit, a really big hit."
Dueck's experience also contrasts sharply with Susan Heyes, the owner of a former Cambie Street maternity-wear shop whose initially successful suit against municipal, provincial and federal governments, as well as TransLink and InTransit B.C. in B.C. Supreme Court, for lost business due to construction met its final defeat in the Supreme Court of Canada Oct. 20.
The construction project affecting Dunbar Street between West 19th Avenue to Southwest Marine Drive began April 8 and is scheduled to end in late December.
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