Déjà vu for some Calgary business owners after 2nd catastrophic water main break

This week’s water main break came just as Shawn Kearns was already closing up shop at Greenbriar Market and Refillery on Bowness Road at the end of the December — and the timing did bring a sense of relief.

“We dodged this bullet, at least,” Kearns said. 

Kearns estimates the store lost $30,000 in sales during the 2024 water main break, thanks to a drop in customer traffic. He and his co-owner will continue sales at their Crossroads Market location. 

For businesses in the affected areas — parts of Point McKay, West Hillhurst, Parkdale and Montgomery are under a boil water advisory — it feels all too familiar to the frustrating situation they found themselves faced with in 2024. 

There are extra hoops to jump through to ensure water is boiled before its served or used for tasks like handwashing dishes. 

Then there are concerns around road closures, worrying some owners that customers could be deterred from visiting. NOtaBLE The Steakhouse posted on social media reassuring guests that the restaurant was open for New Year’s Eve, with directions to get there. 

For Annie Tran, owner of Now Nails and Spa, it was a bit of a scramble to figure out what to do in the aftermath of the break. 

The salon is on the stretch of 16th Avenue N.W. that remains closed to drivers, so they were not sure how customers would get to them. And Alberta Health Services says water for filling pedicure basins and manicure soaks must be boiled first during a boil water advisory.

“Water is very important to our services. We offer pedicures, manicures, as you know, we need a lot of water for it,” Tran told CBC News Network Thursday. 

She said if the advisory extends for a long time, she might consider temporarily eliminating services like pedicures that require more water. 

Over at Abbey’s Creations Ice Cream, it was “déjà vu” for co-owner Paul Hopfner. He’s thankful it happened now and not during peak ice cream season, like the last break in the summer. While he says his shop can weather the disruptions, it still has an impact. 

“It’s tough on us if we’re going to have major interruptions every year. This affects our business, and it will probably drive one or two of us out of business in Montgomery,” he said.

During the city’s Thursday update on the water main break, Mayor Jeromy Farkas implored people to visit affected businesses. 

“Please, more than ever Calgarians, we need to step up and support our neighbours. That support is happening from the city’s administration, and it’s going to continue,” he said.

Farkas said he visited some local businesses to hear about the struggles they are facing. 

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While he said the city is looking at “absolutely everything” to help businesses, he did not commit to any financial supports, saying the focus now was on working to provide clear timelines for when things might be back to normal. 

Kearns says even though he no longer has a shop in the area, he would like to see the city provide help to business owners in the area.

“I’m really hoping that the city does some sort of supports this time for small businesses. Basically last time they told us ‘too bad, so sad, you’re on your own,’” he said.