WINNIPEG — The closure of Selkirk Ave. is hitting businesses located on the North End street hard.
Business has been very slow for the Windmill Restaurant, which has been situated on Selkirk Ave. near Andrews St. for almost 50 years.
“Business has been pretty bad. It’s been slow, very slow here since then. Usually we’re hopping,” said Marie Neeth who’s been working there since 1980.
Construction started on Selkirk Ave. a month ago. A three block section between McGregor St. and Salter St. is closed and isn’t expected to reopen until the end of July at the earliest.
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Neeth estimates some days they’re only making around $100 when they used to bring in $1,000 every day.
The closure has also heavily reduced foot traffic in the area, making things even more difficult for local businesses.
“We’ve lost some employees due to the lack of hours we can give them,” said Gus Tasse, manager of Bargains Galore and Tobacco.
It’s a difficult problem for the Selkirk Avenue Biz association, said vice-president Arthur Gunn.
“What I’m hearing is that business has dropped off to almost nothing,” he said.
Businesses are suffering in the short term but the road project is something the area desperately needs.
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“Once the street is done with all the ornamental lighting and everything, the street is going to be beautiful and in the long run will attract more people to come to the street,” said Gunn.
Selkirk Avenue Biz is currently trying to make the addresses and names of businesses more visible from back alleys, in an effort to entice customers to park there.
They’re also planning to ask the city parking authority to allow free parking on Selkirk Ave. after the construction is over to help businesses recover.
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