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The CEO of Rebellion Brewing says the reopening of Dewdney Avenue delivered an immediate boost to business after two years of construction that kept customers, traffic and energy away from the Warehouse District.
The stretch of Dewdney between Broad and Albert streets reopened last week, and Mark Heise, Rebellion’s president and CEO, said it felt like a weight was finally lifted off the neighbourhood.
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“There was always so much uncertainty, no real timeline, and any timelines we got months ago were useless,” Heise said. “When the barricades finally came down, it was just awesome. And then you catch your breath and hope people start coming back in, and they have.”
Heise said the difference was noticeable within hours. Parking lots were fuller. Sidewalks were busier. Drivers were easing back onto a street many had avoided for the better part of two years. And at Rebellion Brewing, the uptick was immediate.
Mark Heise, CEO of Rebellion Brewing, said the company had to work extra hard to stay afloat during the construction project. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME).
“We definitely noticed more customers coming in, more people just on the streets,” he said. “Other places along Dewdney looked busier, too. That was a real ‘up week’ for us, and we’ll take it.”
For two years, the construction created a challenge familiar to businesses across the city: no drive-by visibility, fewer impulse visits and no reliable way to predict when things would improve. Heise said his staff became accustomed to quiet days and inconsistent foot traffic, especially during winter when customers had to walk long distances through the cold because access was blocked.
“In the winter, when the road was closed, folks would walk a long way just to get to the brewery,” Heise said. “Even I’m going to second-guess how far I want to walk when it’s cold out.”
That’s why the timing of the reopening matters. Holiday parties, year-end gatherings and customer traditions often make December one of the busier months for breweries and local restaurants. Heise said having Dewdney back open ahead of the Christmas rush gives businesses a fighting chance to the recover revenue they’ve missed out on.
“We’ve got Christmas parties booked, and tons of people looking to meet up with friends,” he said. “If the road was still closed, I think lots of people would have just said ‘Let’s go somewhere else and not deal with this.’”
While the immediate boost helps, Heise said he’s already looking further ahead. With construction behind them, he said attention is shifting to the next major neighbourhood project, The Yards development planned for the former rail land near Dewdney Avenue. The City of Regina has said a mix of commercial space and residential units is expected as part of the project.
Heise says that change could redefine the entire district.
“Everyone expects residential builds there. That’s a requirement for some of the provincial and federal funding,” Heise said. “Residents downtown is a good thing. That’s what most cities have. It brings energy, safety and support for local businesses.”
Heise said more people living in the area would help create a year-round customer base, rather than businesses relying heavily on nightlife or tourism. He said it would also strengthen the feel of the Warehouse District as a neighbourhood, and not just a bar strip.
“More people walking around, cycling, going to shops; that’s what helps a downtown thrive,” Heise said. “It makes the whole area feel alive.”
Rebellion Brewing has also started planning updates to its own property now that access to the area is normal again. Heise said he had meetings last week, with more scheduled this week, to map out improvements that had been delayed by the construction work.
“We’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” he said. “We knew this day would eventually come, and now that it’s done, it’s time to move on to the next stage.”
For Heise, the reopening isn’t just about business returning – it’s about momentum returning to the neighbourhood.
“You get used to quiet streets after two years,” he said. “Seeing cars in the parking lot again, seeing people walking by, that’s when you realize how much life comes from a street being open.”
