A number of businesses along that make up the Aberdeen block retail stip are expecting to be affected by the upcoming public health restrictions. (CHAT News photo) 

By Alex McCuaig

Small businesses hit by restrictions

Small businesses to bear brunt of COVID-19 restrictions

Dec 9, 2020 | 5:44 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Nestled in the middle of the Southeast Hill neighbourhood at the junction of Fourth Avenue and Aberdeen is one of the city’s oldest retail strips and rarity in a world dominated by fast-food outlets, big box stores and suburban malls as the owners put their names on their stores.

Harry’s Aberdeen and Ted’s Hat’s Off barbershops, Morgan’s Pizza, Baking with Candace, Lela’s Place all line the half block of shops that are surrounded by detached homes and brick apartment buildings in the heart of the central community.

Stop in a shop looking for Dale and you might be asked which one – the Home Hardware Dale, Aberdeen Laundromat Dale or the Morgan’s Dale.

The Food Plus Convenience Store might not have a moniker attached to it but it’s a place you can pick up some locally-made Douglas Meats sausages or Brandi’s Salsa.

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“We have one of everything,” said Tammy Komanchuk, owner of Chloe’s Closet & Curio Shoppe. “It’s a real little neighbourhood.

But the usual bustling street was emptied in the spring after the first pandemic lock down.

Since businesses reopened over the summer, there were still some lingering effects such as reduced hours but Komanchuk said, “people here feel like your neighbours. Everyone is wearing their mask. Everyone is conscientious of each other.”

But Lela’s Place Chocolate Shop – the city’s oldest continuously run restaurant – is going to feel the hit of the new restrictions that will take effect starting on Sunday.

“I’m going to try to stay open – do takeout, do delivery. Do the best of my ability to keep the doors open,” said owner Lela Nicholson. “But I’m going to have to layoff staff again. It’s sad.”

Nicholson said it’s the unfairness of the situation which bothers her the most.

“It’s very stressful. We’ve followed all the guidelines. I’ve put up barriers, I sanitize and clean constantly and make sure everybody’s safe as much as I can and it’s just disappointing to be closed down when we’ve tried so hard.”

And while she doesn’t downplay the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus, she said people need to get on with their lives.

Massage Therapist Richard Hicks, who operates out of the Silver Sage Therapy Centre, says this time of year is usually one of his busiest.

While there will be a financial hit to his business, his clients who require rehabilitative work will also suffer from the lock down. A point which is particularly irksome as other provinces under strict restrictions still allow his profession to operate and even in Alberta, chiropractors can still practise.

“The overall feeling that I’ve gotten from most people is that they wish it would just all go away. That this would just stop.” said Hicks. “But it’s not going to so we have to keep working with each other and try to support one another.”

And that’s what many of the shopkeepers say they are going to do as this microcosm of the city’s small businesses head into a lock down for the next four weeks.