As Vancouver unveils Granville strip revitalization plans, businesses struggle [Video]

A storefront is boarded up beside Dave Kershaw’s Cabana Lounge on Vancouver’s Granville Street. Across the road, posters are plastered on the front of what was once a Wings restaurant.

Kershaw, who has been running nightclubs on Granville since 1996, calls it a symptom of the times for all businesses on the historic street.

“It’s incredibly slow,” said Kershaw. “It was the worst December of all time, and now the worst January of all time.”

Kershaw attributes the decline to cost of living challenges, street disorder and rising business costs.

“Downtown businesses need help now,” he added.

For the past two years, the City of Vancouver has been working toward a Granville Street revitalization effort. On Wednesday, the planning team unveiled its proposed vision for a renewed Granville entertainment district. According to its report, the street will be transformed into “a welcoming, safe, diverse and vibrant entertainment district.”