It was billed as a way to bring more activity and energy to the ByWard Market, but less than three months in businesses say they are struggling at the Vendor Village on George Street. Many of the shipping containers are closed up after business owners decided to leave over complaints about a lack of foot traffic and nearby construction. One small business says it’s been very difficult financially. “We are not happy the way that we are losing things and there is no foot traffic and there’s no improvement and they were planning to make this place a better place for small businesses,” said Rahimullah Samandar, the owner of Form and Flora. Samandar moved his business into the location on May 15. He is new to Canada and is struggling to support his family after a summer of low sales. Last summer, he had a different location set-up in the ByWard Market and he’s now thinking about leaving this spot like many others in the area already have. “Here, we have 12 businesses and only four of them are remaining,” he said. “If this is not working, I will move back to York so that I’m near to the ByWard because the ByWard has a history and it’s near to the market where people come and most people walk around.” Another sticking point for small businesses is that the vendor village only operates from Wednesday to Sunday between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Farnoosh Fahim is also a vendor in the village. “We try for the best, but foot traffic isn’t so good,” said Fahim. “It’s because people didn’t know that we are here and it’s a new location. The ByWard Market did social media and other things to encourage people to come here, but we hoped that it would be better.” The ByWard Market District Authority launched the Vendor Village in May as part of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary celebrations. The project aimed to transform a traditionally quieter stretch into a hub for local small businesses and encourage foot traffic deeper into the market. “I’m sad to hear that some vendors are leaving, but you know there’s always people trying new things,” Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante said. CTV News reached out to the ByWard Market District Authority for an on-camera interview, but no one was available before airtime. As Samandar struggles to keep up with his bills for his family, he’s hoping more can be done. “We thought they would do their best to bring foot traffic here and they would put some nice signs on the street and signs from the Rideau Centre and they would put some activities here,” said Samandar. “I’m planning to move and I have a discussion with the ByWard administration, maybe this coming business day I will move to the York.” The village will run right through the rest of the summer until October.
