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.

91裸聊视频淐learly they want me out. I don91裸聊视频檛 know why, but you don91裸聊视频檛 treat a tenant like this unless you are trying to get them to leave,91裸聊视频� Cross wrote in an email, also stating that the city employee denied that they want her out.

She said she doesn91裸聊视频檛 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 Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 commitment to small businesses.

91裸聊视频淜elowna is a black hole for small- to medium-sized enterprises,91裸聊视频� Cross said, 91裸聊视频淭ell me how they actually support (SMEs)?91裸聊视频�

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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.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e either clueless or ignorant,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 would be more affected than anybody else,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e been pretty good.91裸聊视频�

Downtown Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 executive director Mark Burley said construction is 91裸聊视频渋nconvenient,91裸聊视频� especially during summer time, but 91裸聊视频渢hey are doing everything they can91裸聊视频� 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 isn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淭hey seem to put most of their energy into Bernard,91裸聊视频� 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 Nelson91裸聊视频檚 downtown are 91裸聊视频渕a and pa91裸聊视频� shops because that91裸聊视频檚 what their residents are interested in, said Dianna Ducs, executiver director at Tourism Nelson.91裸聊视频漈hose are the stores that do well here.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淏y keeping the locals engaged in the community 91裸聊视频� you will see your community thrive,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渄iminish a community.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 lose the heart,91裸聊视频� Ducs said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檒l never get it back.91裸聊视频�

Ducs said Nelson has a heritage working group that enforces regulations on what signs can and cannot due to the buildings in downtown. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a simple way of keeping (chains) away,91裸聊视频� she said, referring to a Starbucks withdrawing from a building lease because of Nelson91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚f we are going to retain the flavour of downtown (the city) should take a second look at that,91裸聊视频� Sloam said.

For Cross, the buildup of multiple issues has caused her to begin focusing her efforts on what91裸聊视频檚 next. She said she91裸聊视频檚 proud that Buvez lasted two years but, every day is looking more and more grave.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 trust (the city) at this point,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey really hurt us.91裸聊视频�

David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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