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.

sa国际传媒淐learly they want me out. I donsa国际传媒檛 know why, but you donsa国际传媒檛 treat a tenant like this unless you are trying to get them to leave,sa国际传媒� Cross wrote in an email, also stating that the city employee denied that they want her out.

She said she doesnsa国际传媒檛 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 Kelownasa国际传媒檚 commitment to small businesses.

sa国际传媒淜elowna is a black hole for small- to medium-sized enterprises,sa国际传媒� Cross said, sa国际传媒淭ell me how they actually support (SMEs)?sa国际传媒�

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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.

sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e either clueless or ignorant,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚 would be more affected than anybody else,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e been pretty good.sa国际传媒�

Downtown Kelownasa国际传媒檚 executive director Mark Burley said construction is sa国际传媒渋nconvenient,sa国际传媒� especially during summer time, but sa国际传媒渢hey are doing everything they cansa国际传媒� to make sure problems are minimal and growth continues.

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Pulp Fiction owner Max Sloam said construction isnsa国际传媒檛 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.

sa国际传媒淭hey seem to put most of their energy into Bernard,sa国际传媒� 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 Nelsonsa国际传媒檚 downtown are sa国际传媒渕a and pasa国际传媒� shops because thatsa国际传媒檚 what their residents are interested in, said Dianna Ducs, executiver director at Tourism Nelson.sa国际传媒漈hose are the stores that do well here.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淏y keeping the locals engaged in the community sa国际传媒� you will see your community thrive,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒渄iminish a community.sa国际传媒�

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sa国际传媒淒onsa国际传媒檛 lose the heart,sa国际传媒� Ducs said. sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檒l never get it back.sa国际传媒�

Ducs said Nelson has a heritage working group that enforces regulations on what signs can and cannot due to the buildings in downtown. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a simple way of keeping (chains) away,sa国际传媒� she said, referring to a Starbucks withdrawing from a building lease because of Nelsonsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淚f we are going to retain the flavour of downtown (the city) should take a second look at that,sa国际传媒� Sloam said.

For Cross, the buildup of multiple issues has caused her to begin focusing her efforts on whatsa国际传媒檚 next. She said shesa国际传媒檚 proud that Buvez lasted two years but, every day is looking more and more grave.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 trust (the city) at this point,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淭hey really hurt us.sa国际传媒�

David.venn@kelownacapnews.com
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