A Kelowna small business owner say the City of Kelowna is not doing enough to help small businesses succeed in the downtown core and worries she may have to close her business in a few months.

Danielle Cross, owner of Buvez, said the city, who she rents her unit from, has been negligent in replacing her HVAC ststem, causing harsh working conditions; continuous construction has been allowed during busy season, which has given customers limited areas to park; multiple events located near or at city parks has driven potential customers to the lakefront, keeping people away from downtown to avoid the traffic. All of which have cost her thousands of dollars.

害羞草研究所淐learly they want me out. I don害羞草研究所檛 know why, but you don害羞草研究所檛 treat a tenant like this unless you are trying to get them to leave,害羞草研究所� Cross wrote in an email, also stating that the city employee denied that they want her out.

She said she doesn害羞草研究所檛 think she will last much longer than a few months.

Mike Olsen, managing property manager for the City of Kelowna said he was surprised their was a story being written about this and views the landlord-tenant relation as a non-issue. He said the city is reaching out to Cross for a meeting.

The sommelier and entrepreneur said she considered the 315 Lawrence Ave. unit for three years before renting it. Now that the self-invested business is on its way out, she reflected on the City of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 commitment to small businesses.

害羞草研究所淜elowna is a black hole for small- to medium-sized enterprises,害羞草研究所� Cross said, 害羞草研究所淭ell me how they actually support (SMEs)?害羞草研究所�

READ MORE:

She said construction on the Chapman Parkade cost her approximately $5,000 in revenue over Pride weekend, as traffic was diverted from her storefront because of the limited parking. She said she understands construction needs to happen, but perhaps it should wait until shoulder season.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e either clueless or ignorant,害羞草研究所� Cross said, claiming she never received notice of the construction.

Robert Fine, director of business and entrepreneurial development could not be reached for comment.

Larry Smith, owner of Blue Gator Bar and Grill, said 80 per cent of business is generated at night, and explained he has no problem with the nearby construction.

害羞草研究所淚 would be more affected than anybody else,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been pretty good.害羞草研究所�

Downtown Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 executive director Mark Burley said construction is 害羞草研究所渋nconvenient,害羞草研究所� especially during summer time, but 害羞草研究所渢hey are doing everything they can害羞草研究所� to make sure problems are minimal and growth continues.

READ MORE: OGO e-scooters zooming into Kelowna streets

Pulp Fiction owner Max Sloam said construction isn害羞草研究所檛 affecting his business that much. For Sloam, the largest detriment to his business is the Bernard-centric mentality and the larger chain restaurants that are entering the downtown core.

害羞草研究所淭hey seem to put most of their energy into Bernard,害羞草研究所� said Sloam, claiming the city tends to leave out the side streets.

Sloam also said that much of his lost revenue can be attributed to the likes of Tim Hortons and other chain restaurants that have taken over part of downtown. He said Kelowna should consider the overall culture of downtown and implement a model similar to Nelson, B.C.

Most shops in Nelson害羞草研究所檚 downtown are 害羞草研究所渕a and pa害羞草研究所� shops because that害羞草研究所檚 what their residents are interested in, said Dianna Ducs, executiver director at Tourism Nelson.害羞草研究所漈hose are the stores that do well here.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏y keeping the locals engaged in the community 害羞草研究所� you will see your community thrive,害羞草研究所� she said.

Ducs said there are a few fast food chains in the outskirts of downtown, but none that intrude on the boutique experience Nelsoners have grown to love. Residents, she said, acknowledge that allowing big chains into the downtown can 害羞草研究所渄iminish a community.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Kelowna couple hospitalized during RV road trip in U.S.

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 lose the heart,害羞草研究所� Ducs said. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l never get it back.害羞草研究所�

Ducs said Nelson has a heritage working group that enforces regulations on what signs can and cannot due to the buildings in downtown. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a simple way of keeping (chains) away,害羞草研究所� she said, referring to a Starbucks withdrawing from a building lease because of Nelson害羞草研究所檚 restrictions.

The heritage working group is a committee that is run by city council. Kelowna has a similar progam called the heritage advisory committee, but they could not be reached for comment.

害羞草研究所淚f we are going to retain the flavour of downtown (the city) should take a second look at that,害羞草研究所� Sloam said.

For Cross, the buildup of multiple issues has caused her to begin focusing her efforts on what害羞草研究所檚 next. She said she害羞草研究所檚 proud that Buvez lasted two years but, every day is looking more and more grave.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 trust (the city) at this point,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey really hurt us.害羞草研究所�

David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .