Edmonton Businesses Expecting a More Normal Holiday Shopping Season This Year – Edmonton | The Canadian News

While 2020 saw many confined to Christmas on Zoom calls, this year, people are gathering again in Edmonton.

With the celebrations starting this weekend, businesses hope to benefit.

Katrina Petryshyn owns The Makers Keep at 124 Street. He said this year already feels very different.

“Last year, we focused mainly on the Internet, something we have never done before,” explained Petryshyn.

On Saturday, some blocks of 124 Street were closed for the All is Bright festival.

It was canceled last year, so this is the first time Petryshyn has been a part of it. Expect to see a lot of traffic.

“It’s huge, especially this 124 Street location. We depend on foot traffic and people who walk and realize that we are here, ”he said.

There are also more people walking downtown, and businesses are feeling it.

“He’s been gaining a bit of momentum lately with the football games, PBR, the Oilers games are back,” said Puneeta McBryan of the Downtown Business Association.

“We are definitely getting used to hosting big events downtown again.”

Now add in everything that comes with the holiday season, an experience 2020 didn’t offer.

“It’s really exciting that people have a reason to get back together,” McBryan said.

“The energy around the holiday season feels completely different this year, that doesn’t mean the pain hasn’t been real yet.”

At this time last year, companies were dealing with a lot of uncertainty.

“It was a very different feeling downtown,” McBryan said.

“Things have still been tough, but the energy, the types of conversations and the optimism are dramatically different.”

There is also a drive behind local shopping. The importance of that has been highlighted since the pandemic began.

With a more regular shopping season ahead, business owners like Petryshyn are optimistic that the thought remains.

“We just hope that people continue to support,” he said.