Broadway Subway construction hurting Vancouver businesses along route

VANCOUVER (CityNews) — The owner of a Vancouver restaurant says the Broadway Subway will be good for businesses along the route — as long as they survive through the construction.

Since May, when construction on the project ramped up, Fable Diner owner Ron MacGillivray says business has taken a noticeable hit. Some people have no idea his business is even open, others leave because of the constant churn of heavy machinery, finding parking is virtually impossible, and pandemic-inspired initiatives Plike curbside pickup have been abandoned because there’s no longer any space on the street.

“We were even going to do a drive-thru, but we can’t do that because the alley has been blocked off for months,” he explains. “It definitely has impacted the sales.”

On @CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130: months after construction on the Broadway Subway Line began, at least 1 business in #Vancouver is feeling the double whammy of #COVID19 and nearby construction. I'm speaking w/Ron Macgillivray of @fablediner who is trying to stay optimistic. pic.twitter.com/1x4yV0atY6

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) August 11, 2021

And while COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining have now eased and the diner can operate at full capacity, the decrease in foot traffic and increase in dust and noise means fewer people stopping in.

“Because of COVID, with all the restrictions and everything else it’s just another thing that we have to deal with as a small busines,” he explains.

“I think we’ve got thick skin right now. It’s in survival mode so this is just another obstacle we have to deal with. We just kind of keep moving forward.”

The Broadway Subway Project will provide SkyTrain service to one of the busiest transit thoroughfares in the city by 2025. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in an earlier statement to CityNews that the stretch of Broadway that MacGillivray business is on can expect to have traffic decks completed, and four lanes open by the fall.

It’s not the first time transportation-related construction in Vancouver has hit the bottom lines for local businesses. When the Canada Line was being built in the Cambie corridor a decade ago, dozens of businesses closed and many filed lawsuits for lost profits and other hardships during the construction.

Leonard Schein ran The Park Theatre on Cambie Street when the Canada Line was being built from 2005 to 2009. The hit to businesses along Broadway gives him a sense of déjà vu.

“I thought they would have learned that they can’t do to small businesses — to independent businesses on Broadway — what they did to us,” he says, noting a case that could see the province compensate business-owners is still winding its way through the courts.

“No one has received a penny of compensation.”

This is an all too familiar scene for Leonard Schein, who was in charge of the Park Theatre along Cambie when the construction on the Canada Line was taking place. He & other businesses were awarded damages, but he still hasn’t seen a penny of it. He tells us why in this video… pic.twitter.com/1BLN1VDwjv

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) August 11, 2021

Schein says he thinks the provincial government should proactively subsidize businesses facing construction-related losses, saying it’s the right thing to do.

“These businesses employ people, they make it easier for people in the neighbourhood to go to local businesses rather than having to go far,  or go to a big box store. They’re really important to a neighbourhood, and they really make a neighbourhood. The government should really treat them well.”

RELATED: Construction begins on Vancouver’s Broadway subway

But MacGillivray says the financial hit businesses like his took due to the pandemic makes it harder to assess the impact of construction.

“If it was a regular year without COVID, it would show up a little bit more dramatically,” he explains, noting he hasn’t been contacted by any level of government offering aid.

“No one’s reached out to me or this business. We’ll see how long it goes on and how it is impacting us down the road, but it’s definitely affecting a lot of the businesses around here.”

When CityNews reached out regarding support, the City of Vancouver said it was investing in an “I Love Broadway” campaign to let people know shops are open. The City says there is also a bike parking program so people can bike to the area and shop on weekends. Regardless, MacGillivray says some financial relief is what businesses really need.

“Of course, the easiest thing is money, like monetarily to help out because we want to keep all our staff, so we can make sure we have enough staff so that if it does get busier, we can prepare for that.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says consultation with businesses began in 2019.

“Our best efforts are being made to mitigate the impacts of the construction on businesses,” an emailed statement reads.

During construction, the Province has required the contractor to ensure access is maintained to businesses; continuity of cycling, bus and vehicle traffic along Broadway including delivery access; businesses are notified in advance of works; and ‘businesses are open’ and wayfinding signs are installed so customers know businesses are open.”

MacGillivray, in the meantime, is staying focused on the positive.

“We have a lot of construction people that come in and eat. I think that in the long run, for Vancouver, it’s going to be a good thing. It’s going to be great for our business and great for everyone around here.”