'There's going to be no one left': Vancouver restaurant shares struggles amid Broadway Subway construction
A restaurant in need of support
MacGillivray said he believes that there should be more support for restaurants like his from the government, such as in the form of a bridge loan similar to what happened during COVID and the recent floods in Abbotsford for businesses facing economic hardship that wasn’t their own fault.
“If I knew that they were building it and coming in, I probably wouldn’t have opened the restaurant. I probably wouldn’t have put as much money into renovating it right from the ground up,” said MacGillivray. “So I think some form of bridge loan, interest-free, that we wouldn’t have to pay back until a year after they complete.”
He also said that he feels like he’s operating a “zombie business” where he’s just operating for the government.
“They’re getting their full GST, their full PST. I’m paying source deductions. Minimum wage is going up every year, and the employee health tax is also increasing. Once this construction is done, there’s going to be no one left for people to visit.
As for how patrons wanting to support can help, it’s as simple as just showing up.
“If you haven’t been in for a while, just come in. You can even have a coffee, have a small bite to eat, and if you have been in or if you’ve heard about us, just tell a friend or tell someone to come on in and check it out. Check out what’s going on in Main and Broadway. It’s going to be amazing when it’s done. “
Fable Diner
Address: 151 E. Broadway, Vancouver
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