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Businesses on Broadway Avenue hope a popular festival sparks sales as construction continues along the street.
Currently, a 1.5-metre-high fence divides Broadway Avenue in two. Cars are unable to travel the full length of the street and pedestrians have to walk around the barricade to get to the other side. It’s all part of a city project to replace 100-year-old water mains and repave the road.
“It’s hurt business a great deal this summer,” Ann Lepage, owner of Clan Celts & Clover, said. “Everybody on Broadway is feeling it because people think it’s closed, but not to foot traffic.”
PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival starts Thursday night and runs until August 6.
Last year the event brought in 55,000 people and business owners hope it will do the same this year.
“We get a lot more sales and really gear up for it,” Justin O’Reilly, chef and co-owner of Nosh Eatery & Tap, said. “This is something we’ve been looking forward to because of all the revenue we lost from the construction.”
Some think the City of Saskatoon should do something to help make up for lost business.
“I would like to think they would help us,” Lepage said.
“I haven’t approached them about it yet, but help paying the rent would be nice.”
Not all business owners along the street agree that the city should compensate them.
“They’re spending the money to pave the street, which will help with more foot traffic and car traffic,” O’Reilly said.
Many shop owners are understanding about the construction and excited to see the finished product.
“We’ve just got to grin and bear it,” Crystal Hardy with Modern Country Interiors said.
“If Fringe is a success it will be much-needed for the neighborhood.”
The city has committed to having construction wrapped up at the festival’s usual location between 12th Street and Main Street. Those blocks will be closed off for the festival from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. through the week and from 12:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the weekend and holiday Monday.
