Sheline Naicker, manager of Value Liquor Hub, claims the business has lost $200,000 in sales over the past three months due to Jasper Avenue road construction. The city's Imagine Jasper Avenue project promises wider sidewalks, reconstructed roads, and better transit access, but local business owners say the prolonged construction is devastating their livelihoods.
Business Owners Demand Compensation
Kanwarpreet Singh Chatrath, owner of Value Liquor Hub near Jasper Avenue and 121 Street, said his business is being cut off from customers. Traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction, and construction barriers hide storefronts. Work in the 121 Street area, including utility line relocation, is expected to continue until snowfall. Chatrath stated, “If it lasts until the fall, then I fall.” He has asked his landlord for rent relief for the first time in eight years.
Impact on Sales and Operations
Chatrath compared this year's sales to 2025 and found a $200,000 drop. He may need to take out another mortgage on his house to keep the business afloat. Construction has driven away longtime customers and made it difficult for delivery drivers to access the store. “The Uber guys, the Skip guys, nobody can come over there,” he said.
City Council Debate on Compensation
This comes after Khazana Restaurant closed, blaming LRT and O'Day-Min Park construction. Ward O'Day-Min Coun. Anne Stevenenson said it is time to debate whether the city should compensate businesses severely impacted by civic construction. Chatrath believes the city must compensate for losses and manage projects better to reduce merchant impact. “They took our livelihood, very simple,” he said. He suggested block-by-block construction to complete work in days instead of months.
Broader Business Concerns
Other businesses have also suffered. Khazana Restaurant faced COVID, inflation, and construction on both sides before closing. Chatrath's situation highlights the urgent need for city action to support affected merchants.
