Rising Challenges for Marda Loop Businesses
Marda Loop, a vibrant neighborhood in Calgary, is facing significant challenges as the city works on an extensive infrastructure upgrade. The project, initially planned to last six months, has been delayed by nearly two years, causing widespread disruption for local businesses. Many have struggled with road closures, limited parking, and declining customer traffic, leading some to close their doors permanently.
Stores and restaurants have reported a sharp decline in business, with some losing over 50% of their customers. For many, the situation became untenable. Doodle Dogs, a pet food store that opened in Marda Loop in late 2023, is one of the latest casualties. Co-owner Meghan Huchkowsky shared her frustration, explaining how the construction disrupted normal operations and made it difficult for customers to find the store.
“We used to think that Marda Loop was like the most incredible, vibrant community in Calgary,” Huchkowsky said. “We always wanted to be there. And most importantly, the analytics internally for us made sense for that community. We were delivering there a lot.”
Huchkowsky believed the six-month upgrade would be a temporary inconvenience, but the delays only worsened the situation. Customers faced difficulty finding parking and navigating the area, while staff heard from clients who were choosing to pick up orders from other locations instead. “How is anyone supposed to know about those lots? And even if we know them as business owners, how are we supposed to communicate that to the community?” she asked.
The project’s completion date has been pushed back multiple times, now scheduled for October. However, by August, Huchkowsky realized the financial strain was too much. “I was devastated. Because I kept thinking if we can just get through one more month, the next month will be better. My brother just was like, we’re down 35 per cent over last year — it’s not getting better. That’s when I realized that I was holding on to false hope.”
Impact on Local Businesses
Huchkowsky is not alone in her struggle. Another local business, Apt 22 Boutique, closed its doors in November 2023, citing construction as the primary reason. Other businesses are also considering their options as they face mounting losses.
The Marda Loop Main Streets project aims to revamp 33rd and 34th Avenue S.W., including utility networks, new landscaping, wider bike lanes, and more seating areas. While the long-term benefits are clear, the current approach has left many business owners feeling unsupported.
Rob Oppenheim, a partner at Phil and Sebastian, a local café chain, described the impact of the construction as devastating. “From a purely financial point of view, it’s been devastating,” he said. He highlighted issues such as repeated road disruptions and the lack of communication from the city.
Oppenheim noted that the coffee shop on 33rd Avenue once drove significant revenue for the company, but over two years, it has become a losing proposition. “We could have closed or negotiated with our landlords if the city had given us a year’s notice,” he said. Despite the drop in revenue, the city continued to require businesses to pay full property taxes.
In response to these challenges, the city introduced a $5,000 lump-sum grant for affected businesses, inspired by Montreal’s construction relief program. However, many business owners feel this amount is insufficient. “We lost about $400,000 in the last few years in that location, so $5,000 — thank you, but the damage has been so big, it didn’t fix anything for anybody,” Oppenheim said.
Legal Action and Calls for Dialogue
A group of Marda Loop businesses is now pursuing legal action against the city, seeking $75 million in damages. The lawsuit, led by Silver Sage Beef and Diner Deluxe, represents all affected businesses in the area. Oppenheim noted that the figure may seem high, but it reflects the significant losses many have suffered.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek has acknowledged the concerns of local businesses and emphasized the importance of dialogue. “I want to have a good conversation with businesses that are expressing difficulty or making decisions to leave. I want to understand what their perspective is,” she said.
Gondek also encouraged Calgarians to visit Marda Loop, highlighting the unique offerings of the neighborhood. “There are amazing retailers down there. There are restaurants, and there are services that you can only get in Marda Loop. So, I would encourage everyone to get down there, have a look around, and go and shop there.”
As the city continues to work on its infrastructure upgrades, the challenge remains to balance progress with support for local businesses. The ongoing efforts to find solutions reflect the complex relationship between urban development and community resilience.