The once-bustling downtown core of Edmonton is facing a dire situation, with a string of restaurant closures serving as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by local businesses. The phrase 'death by a thousand cuts' aptly describes the cumulative impact of various factors that have contributed to the decline of the city's downtown area. Six restaurants have shut down in just a few months, with owners citing a combination of construction projects, lack of planning, and safety concerns as the primary reasons for their closures. The situation is particularly concerning for restaurateurs like Maheik Bhasin, who has firsthand experience of the struggles faced by the industry.
Bhasin, the former operations manager of Khazana, an Indian restaurant that had been a staple in downtown Edmonton for 28 years, closed its doors in June. She attributes the closure to the construction projects surrounding the restaurant, including O-day’min Park and the Valley Line West LRT, which blocked off vehicle access and confused pedestrians. The lack of planning and coordination between various projects has had a detrimental effect on the area's economic viability.
The closures of Khazana, Greta bar, kb&co, Kommune, Bündok, and PlayWright are not isolated incidents. They reflect a broader trend of businesses struggling to survive in the city's core. Chris Decock, owner of Greta bar, penned a letter explaining that multiple problems, including tax increases, patio fees, paid parking, and hybrid work arrangements, have made it challenging to operate in the city's core. The Downtown Revitalization Coalition echoes these concerns, highlighting safety issues and the ongoing construction projects as significant deterrents for visitors.
Cheryll Watson, an executive committee member of the coalition, warns that the repercussions of the current situation are only just beginning to be felt. She calls for better construction project planning, suggesting that the areas of impact should be smaller and managed in a segmented manner. Watson also emphasizes the need for better integration of transit and peace officers into the Edmonton Police Service, consistent deployment of officers in high-priority areas, and the establishment of a 24-hour stabilization and transfer facility for crisis response.
Tom Girvan, the City of Edmonton's director of downtown economy, acknowledges the challenges faced by local businesses. However, he emphasizes the city's efforts to support downtown development through initiatives like the Downtown Action Plan Fund and the Downtown Vibrancy Fund. Since 2015, the city has invested over $4.7 billion in downtown development, resulting in the construction or development of over seven million square feet of new buildings for various purposes.
Despite these efforts, Bhasin remains discouraged, questioning whether anyone cares about the city's future. She hopes that the city will reconsider its approach to project planning to prevent further business closures. The closures of these restaurants serve as a stark reminder of the interconnected challenges facing Edmonton's downtown core, and the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address them.
