Elyas Al Shanaah is waiting for clients outside his Pierrefonds store, but he says business is slow after the area was devastated by the spring floods.
“We closed for four months,” said Al Shannah.
“We were expecting all the people to come to see what’s happening here, but no one knows we’ve reopened.”
His jewelry shop, Bijouterie Zoe, is one of four stores on the Saint-Jean Boulevard strip mall that is back in business.
Ongle Steffy, T&M Coiffeurs and Cordonnerie Garo have now all re-opened.
READ MORE: Pierrefonds hair salon back in business three months after Quebec floods
Business owners say when they reopened a few weeks ago, they thought their clients would be rushing back to see them.
“The parking lot is, like, only our cars,” said Al Shannah.
“Before, you didn’t have space to park.”
READ MORE: Clients support flood-affected Pierrefonds florist on Mother’s Day
To let clients know their stores have reopened, they put up signs along Saint-Jean and Pierrefonds boulevards.
The borough also installed a sign, but hairdresser Lyne Leblanc from T&M Coiffeurs says it isn’t enough.
“You can’t see,” she said.
Another reason business owners say clients may not know they’re open is because Mourelatos supermarket is still closed.
For years, the successful grocery store has been a big player on the strip mall and owners around it say without it, there’s no telling when business will pick back up.
READ MORE: Quebec flood residents feel ‘abandoned’ by Montreal
“We would like Mourelatos to come back,” said Al Shannah. “Because it is really the heart of this mall.”
Global News reached out to Mourelatos for comment, but did not hear back.
READ MORE: New measures put in place to help Quebec flood victims
Shoemaker Garo Tavitian says regardless of the grocery store, he’s ready to put the floods behind him and focus on the future.
“Please, we’re open,” he said.
“Please, we’re waiting for you and we’re ready to serve you again.”
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