Despite setbacks, downtown Nanaimo business owners say they believe in the neighbourhood

Small businesses have been trying to entice people into Nanaimo's downtown core for years. Now, owners say Commercial Street is at a crucial turning point that could see it develop into a community and retail hub in the heart of the city. 

But times aren't easy for traditional retail businesses.

The number of people shopping online is going up every year, according to StatsCan, putting further pressure on small brick-and-mortar businesses.

One of the downtown's anchor stores — a menswear store called NYLA that's been operating for 10 years — will be closing up shop after this holiday season. 

Owner Leon Drzewiecki blames it on multiple factors. Spending per customer, he says, is down, as customers hold on to their cash, seeing new clothes as a luxury rather than a necessity — something also referenced in a survey from the Bank of Montreal that indicated Canadians would be spending less this holiday season. 

Drzewiecki also says the overhead costs of running his shop have risen as inflation drives prices up. 

But he says he still believes in Nanaimo's downtown. 

"We have some really great businesses down here. It's been growing over the years, and people really love what we're doing down here.

"We have some really great cafés, locally owned and operated, some really great retail, again, locally owned and operated. And it makes it a little bit more special when you're shopping locally."

A few steps down Commercial Street is Red Shelf Decor, which sells unique vintage, antique and pre-owned items. The store is owned and operated by Steven Johns, who also sits as vice-chair of the Downtown Business Association. 

He says he moved to Nanaimo over a half decade ago, primarily because he was so enchanted by the downtown and what he sees as a bright future. 

"I think in the next 10 years, downtown will become a big shining point of Nanaimo," said Johns. "I think it's just on the verge of being sort of a focal point of Nanaimo and a bragging right for Nanaimo."

Downtown revitalization 

Part of businesses feeling the pinch is an ongoing construction project on Commercial Street, that the city says is part of its effort to revitalize and "reimagine" the downtown by bringing more people into the city centre. 

After three years of public consultation and planning, the project is set to replace a water main, address decaying infrastructure in the area, and build back with enhanced accessibility to create a more event-friendly environment — all of which city officials say they hope will inspire people to spend more time downtown. 

"People still see Commercial Street and downtown in general as the heart of the city," said James Knight, who is managing the Commercial Street project. 

"I believe the measures of success are really going to be, are more people coming downtown after the project."

The city says that significant work hasn't been done to the area since the '80s and the infrastructure needs to be improved to fit the larger city that Nanaimo has become.

Some business owners like Valentina Cardinalli — the owner of NoiseAgonyMayhem, a record store that opened up shop in downtown Nanaimo earlier this year — have raised the alarm on the lengthy project, which has kept vehicles and people off Commercial Street.

Cardinalli told CBC in September she felt left out of the consultation. 

"They've reimagined Nanaimo, but they've reimagined it without me in it," she said. 

However, both Johns and Drzewieck say that they believe it's just growing pains and that, in the long term, the project will help all businesses along Commercial Street. 

In fact, despite closing his store in the new year, Drzewieck says he'll be opening a new coffee house next door. 

"The construction, it is interrupting some of the flow down here, but that's a short-term problem for us. Long term, we're excited about the finished product," said Drzewieck. 

Construction is expected to wrap up in May 2025.