A small business owner in Kelowna says the city of Kelowna is not doing enough to help small businesses thrive in the heart of downtown, and fears that she will have to shut down in a few months.
Danielle Cross, owner of Buvez, said the city where she rents her unit was negligent in replacing its HVAC system, resulting in harsh working conditions; Continuous construction was allowed during the main season, which left customers with limited parking space; Several events nearby or in city parks have driven potential customers to the lakefront and kept people away from downtown to avoid the traffic. All of this cost her thousands of dollars.
“Of course they want me out. I don’t know why, but you don’t treat a tenant like this unless you try to get them to leave, ”Cross wrote in an email, also explaining that the city worker denied they wanted her out.
She said she doesn’t think she will last much longer than a few months.
Mike Olsen, managing property manager for the City of Kelowna, said he was surprised that a story was being written about this and considered the landlord-renter relationship an off-topic. He said the town was asking Cross to meet.
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 the decline, she pondered the City of Kelowna’s commitment to small business.
“Kelowna is a black hole for small and medium-sized businesses,” said Cross. “Tell me how you actually support (SMEs)?”
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She said Chapman Parkade cost her around $ 5,000 in sales over Pride weekend as traffic was diverted from her storefront due to limited parking. She said she understands that there is construction work to be done, but maybe she should wait until the off-season.
“They’re either clueless or ignorant,” Cross said, claiming she never received any notice of construction.
Robert Fine, Director of Business and Entrepreneurial Development, was not available for comment.
Larry Smith, owner of Blue Gator Bar and Grill, said 80 percent of the business is generated at night and said he had no problem with the nearby construction.
“I would be more concerned than anyone else,” he said. “You were pretty good.”
Downtown Kelowna executive director Mark Burley said construction was “inconvenient”, especially in the summer, but “they are doing everything they can” to ensure problems are minimal and growth continues.
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Pulp Fiction owner Max Sloam said the construction didn’t have much of an impact on his business. For Sloam, the biggest downside to its business is the Bernard-centric mentality and the larger restaurant chains that are invading downtown.
“You seem to have put most of your energy into Bernard,” Sloam said, claiming the city tends to skip the back streets.
Sloam also said much of his lost revenue was due to Tim Hortons and other chain restaurants that have taken over part of the downtown area. He said Kelowna should take into account the overall downtown culture and implement a similar model to Nelson, BC
Most of the stores in downtown Nelson are “Ma and Pa” stores because their residents are interested in them, said Dianna Ducs, executive director at Tourism Nelson. “That’s the business that is doing well here.”
“By engaging the locals in the community … you will see your community thrive,” she said.
Ducs said there are a few fast food chains on the outskirts of downtown, but none that interferes with the boutique experience that Nelsons love. Local residents, she said, recognize that allowing large chains to move downtown can “downsize” a community.
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“Don’t be discouraged,” said Ducs. “You never get it back.”
Ducs said Nelson has a heritage working group that is enforcing regulations on what signs can and cannot do because of downtown buildings. “It’s an easy way to keep (chains) out,” she said, referring to a Starbucks that pulled out of a construction contract due to Nelson’s restrictions.
The cultural heritage working group is a committee chaired by the city council. Kelowna has a similar program called the Heritage Advisory Committee, but it was not available for comment.
“If we want to keep the downtown (city) flair, we should take another look at that,” Sloam said.
For Cross, the accumulation of multiple problems has led her to focus her efforts on what’s next. She said she was proud that Buvez lasted two years, but every day looks more and more serious.
“I don’t trust (the city) right now,” she said. “You really hurt us.”
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