Downtown businesses feeling optimistic on the heels of some difficult years

By Danielle McPherson

With COVID-19 moving into the rear-view mirror and a new streetscape, businesses in Huntsville’s downtown are heading into the 2023 summer season with excitement and optimism. 

Manny Buttus, owner of That Little Place by the Lights was one of the people pushing for the reconstruction of Huntsville’s main street to happen last summer, saying it made more sense and it needed to be done. “I figured it would’ve been more of a disruption this year than it was last year. So, I was a big advocate of doing it while there was still a possibility of (COVID-19) restrictions.” 

Director of Operations, Maryanne Smith, says the staff at Soapstone are excited and thrilled with the result of ‘the result of ‘Diggin’ Downtown’ project.  

Even this early in the season, Smith says that there has already been an increase in foot traffic with the larger sidewalks, “Definitely a 100 per cent satisfied with the new streetscape, it has generated a lot more people for sure!” 

But while some businesses are seeing an increase in visitors, other business owners are concerned about the lack of parking and accessibility issues.  

Brigitte Grima, who has owned Artisans of Muskoka on Huntsville’s Main Street for thirty years, says she is concerned with the lack of parking. “There are certainly a lot of people complaining about the lack of parking, especially down on this end. It’s very difficult for the older people and those with disabilities to shop downtown because they have to walk too far.”  

Across the street at The Mill on Main, Deb Warren says that the disruption associated with the streetscape reconstruction was worth it. Although similar to Grima, says she too is concerned about the lack of parking. “My biggest concern, which I’m sure is a concern for anybody who has a business in downtown Huntsville, is the parking issue, or lack of parking. Not only for our guests but also for our staff.”

Warren is hoping that the town of Huntsville will be addressing the issue sooner rather than later.  

New to Main Street, Cedar Canoe Book Store opened its door in November 2022. Owner Chandler Jolliffe says he is feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness for his business’s first summer. “At this point, I am both excited and a little bit nervous to see how the summer goes and how we manage the volume.” 

Jolliffe is hoping for a busy summer with the locals, seasonal residents as well as tourists looking to do some summer reading. “I think people going on vacation also want to read. People going to relax at the cottage, still need books. For a lot of people, vacation is the only time they really read, or it is when they get most of their reading done,” said Jolliffe. 

While Huntsville Council found it difficult to make the decision to go ahead with the project and associated disruptions, particularly during a time that businesses were already being hit with mandated COVID restrictions, the result is being received favourably by most business owners who are eager to get on with the 2023 summer season with no construction or COVID-19 concerns in sight.  

Construction started in March 2021 and was completed in Oct 2022. It was commemorated with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 4, 2022.  

Along with the visible differences such as wider sidewalks and the updated crosswalk, the project also replaced the underground water and sewer pipes, infrastructure that is now expected to last for many years to come.  

Downtown merchants are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and in the words of Smith, “Our doors are open come on in!”  

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