‘I don’t want to lose my business’ -- Sudbury restaurant feels impact of construction

Sudbury restaurant owner says construction has crippled business, worse than COVID.

A restaurant owner in downtown Sudbury says road construction downtown is hurting her business.

It’s hard to notice the front door at La Casa Mexicana at the corner of Elgin near Elm Street due to the construction material literally at its doorstep. But the restaurant is open.

“I understand it has to be done,” owner Sylvia Laroque told CTV News on Monday.

“I understand that, but regarding my business, it really hurts right now. We don’t get no business.”

Laroque said they have faced several obstacles in the 18 years the business has been in the location, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I find it … harder than COVID,” she said.

“At least when it was COVID, we had Skip The Dishes.”

No place to park

That service has been halted for La Casa Mexicana during construction because there is no place for the drivers to park to pick up the food.

Laroque said since the construction work began last month, business at her restaurant slowed to a crawl.

“I start to get a little panic when I don’t see customers for almost three weeks in a row, then I get a little bit upset, sad and everything,” she said.

In a statement, Greater Sudbury said it’s working with the Downtown Business Improvement Association “to keep communication open between the city’s contractor and businesses downtown.”

“The city is working in conjunction with the BIA for appropriate signage for businesses affected along Elgin Street to notify patrons they are still open for business.”

The goal of the signs is “to remind people that those businesses are still open and redirect people,” said Jeff MacIntyre from Downtown Sudbury.

“A sidewalk might shift one day to the next. So, people might not know directly how to get to that business that day.”

“Construction is always hard -- it’s a necessary evil anywhere,” MacIntyre added, but the benefit is a “long, long period of a fixed road.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said that every summer, many businesses lose revenue when they’re caught in a construction zone.

“Everybody generally loves the finished construction project -- the issue or the challenge is making it to the end of the project, especially ones that are lengthy and disruptive,” said Julie Kwiecinski, the federation’s Ontario director of provincial affairs.

“So anything six months and longer, municipalities should be very clear and transparent.”

Kwiecinski said some of the largest impacts for small businesses during construction projects are traffic, noise, debris, people not knowing how to access entrances, parking and lower revenues.

She said the federation wants municipalities to use online interactive maps “that show the streets that are impacted, whether those streets are partially closed or fully closed, and for this information to be updated daily.”

“Small businesses like the new infrastructure, but the challenge is surviving until they can benefit,” Kwiecinski said.

Laroque said the past year has been particularly difficult. Her husband and business partner passed away in July 2025, leaving her to run the business herself.

After enduring the harsh winter, she’s now dealing with the loss of business due to the construction. Laroque recently launched an online fundraiser to help her get through the summer until the construction work is complete this October.

Despite the challenges, she is determined to stay at her location for as long as she can.

“If I don’t get business, if I don’t get support from the public or people don’t buy my food, I won’t be able to make a go.”