Photo courtesy of LaPiers Flowers and Gifts via Facebook.Photo courtesy of LaPiers Flowers and Gifts via Facebook.
Sarnia

Downtown Merchant Struggles With Road Closures

A downtown Sarnia business owner is worried about the future of her operation after a dismal Christmas season she feels could have been avoided.

Sharon LaPier says she was hit by a double whammy: the closure of Front St. for Hometown Hockey the Saturday before Christmas and a craft sale in the Bayside Center on December's First Friday event.

The Saturday before Christmas of 2014, LaPier says she did almost $2,000 in business. Last year's sales on the same day totalled $27.

She says her business is also negatively impacted by the road closure for the International Powerboat Races.

"This year they brought that wonderful Greekfest downtown and we were assured this would bring business and all we did was watch people park and walk by the whole weekend, and that's what has happened every year with the races," says LaPier.

She feels there needs to be better co-ordination between the city, downtown businesses and organizers of downtown events as to when events are held, and what roads will be closed.

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