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A number of Alberta Avenue businesses are on life support, with one even closing its doors, as ongoing construction in the area hampers accessibility.
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On Saturday afternoon, four businesses affected by EPCOR’s Kinnair sewer separation project as well as residential upgrades on the north side of 118 Avenue and 88 Street, gathered together in the area to find support.
Shady Darwish, co-owner of City Liquidation, said he has seen a decrease in business of at least 90 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction project has made things worse — forcing him to close his shop for good in two weeks.
“It’s tough. It really is very tough,” said Darwish.
“After so many years putting all the time and the care into this business, the love, after putting all that in and getting to see even kids growing up on the avenue, it’s tough, but changes have to be made and I can’t just keep losing money.”
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Darwish has been running the store for about 10 years now. It originally started as a pawn shop before turning into a retail store in an attempt to attract more clientele.
“I have to (close) because all the expenses that piled up, we’re talking about rent and staff that I had to lay off, unfortunately, that’s what led me to close,” said Darwish.
Aminata’s Hair Braiding & Beauty Supply, Tropicana Grocery and Koultures Afro-Continental Restaurant joined Darwish at the Construction Party Cash Mob event hosted by the Alberta Avenue Business Association. The goal of the cash mob was for Edmontonians to head down and support the businesses between 12 and 4 pm on Saturday and going forward.
Aminata Fofanah, owner of Aminata’s Hair Braiding & Beauty Supply, said she is “about a month” away from having to close her doors as well.
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“It’s really, really bad because I can’t deal with COVID and now I have to deal with the construction,” said Fofanah. “And dealing with COVID was really crazy, but now the construction is like I’m moving from fire, going into the deep hole.”
Fofanah opened the salon at the beginning of the pandemic and said she is also losing some regular customers due to the lack of accessibility.
“This morning, two people canceled and one of them was my good client and she’s handicapped,” she said. “I can’t keep telling them to park over there, then there’s no way for them to come back here.”
She said the construction is scheduled to continue until September and it’s likely she won’t make it until then. Fofanah said she feels defeated and like she is “losing.”
“I know from my side for sure I can’t wait until September because my savings are ran out, my husband’s savings are ran out, so I cannot wait for September,” said Fofanah. “I cannot continue, I think I have about a month left because I can’t keep taking money out of my pocket that I don’t have.”
