Frustration on menu as construction drags on Months of sidewalk work, water main repairs leave owner of longtime Portage Avenue eatery struggling to pay bills By: Kelly-Anne Riess Posted:
Nearly four months of construction outside the front door of a longtime Portage Avenue restaurant has driven away customers and left its owner struggling to cover operating expenses.
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Nearly four months of construction outside the front door of a longtime Portage Avenue restaurant has driven away customers and left its owner struggling to cover operating expenses.
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Nearly four months of construction outside the front door of a longtime Portage Avenue restaurant has driven away customers and left its owner struggling to cover operating expenses.
Claire Venevongsa, owner of Pad Thai, said consecutive construction projects have restricted access to the St. James eatery since July, cutting into sales while bills pile up.
“I’m frustrated,” she said. “It must be a reason why they need to repair, but (there’s) only 12 months in a year and then I’m now (close to) hitting the (fifth) month (of construction).”
The disruption began in the summer with sidewalk repairs outside the restaurant, the owner said. That work wrapped up at the end of August, but the reprieve was short-lived.
In early September, crews began water main construction along Portage Avenue, which Venevongsa said made it difficult for customers to find parking and left some wondering whether the restaurant was even open.
“A lot of people think I’m closed for business because I’m trapped by the construction,” Venevongsa said.
“A lot of people think I’m closed for business because I’m trapped by the construction.”
A pile of dirt several feet high remained at the site Thursday, a few metres from the front door of the building.
It has even left food delivery drivers reluctant to pick up orders.
Venevongsa has been busy posting reminders on social media that Pad Thai remains open and answering calls from customers wondering whether they can still visit. She also works a second job to help support the family business, which has been operating in the neighbourhood for 25 years.
The City of Winnipeg said a series of significant water main breaks earlier this year prompted it to add a section of Portage Avenue between Harcourt and Thompson streets to its water main renewal program in July.
Work began Sept. 2 and was scheduled to take eight weeks.
The city said Thursday the project is on schedule, with water main work expected to wrap up later this week.
Lane closures are scheduled through Oct. 30 but may be extended while crews restore the road surface. The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 6.
The city did not provide details about the earlier sidewalk construction or whether the two projects were co-ordinated.
“We can appreciate the frustration of businesses affected by projects of this nature.”
“We can appreciate the frustration of businesses affected by projects of this nature,” the city said in an emailed statement.
Businesses are provided with temporary water service during construction, but the city does not compensate them for financial losses caused by the work.
Venevongsa said she has searched for financial assistance but has been unable to find any programs to help offset declining sales. Her insurance does not cover losses caused by construction, she said.
Despite the difficulties, Venevongsa said she understands the need for infrastructure repairs and appreciates the workers carrying them out.
She is also grateful for customers who have continued to support the restaurant, including those who have promised to return more often.
But she worries about the financial toll of prolonged construction on small businesses that must continue paying their bills even when customers cannot easily reach them.
For now, she hopes customers will make the effort to visit.
“We are still opening for business,” she said.
kelly.riess@winnipegfreepress.com
Kelly-Anne Riess is a reporter at the Free Press who has spent her career telling stories about the people, places and issues shaping the Canadian Prairies. Read more about Kelly-Anne.
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