Closure of Doodle Dogs Marks Another Casualty in Marda Loop
In an unfortunate turn of events, another small enterprise has announced its closure in the Marda Loop neighborhood. The proprietors of Doodle Dogs, situated at 2040 34th Avenue Southwest, had long nursed aspirations of establishing a pet retail outlet in their community.
However, with the Marda Loop Main Streets project far exceeding its initially projected timeline by nearly a year, they now contend that they can no longer withstand the financial burdens precipitated by ongoing construction.
“The financial implications compel us to either pay rent and cease operations or continue to lose money,” lamented owner Meghan Huchkowski. Owner Meghan Huchkowski, alongside her brother, affixes a notice to the window of Doodle Dogs, informing customers of the definitive closure.
Global News
Upon launching the store in December 2023, they were assured that the extensive overhaul of streets, sidewalks, and other public infrastructure would conclude by the summer of 2024.
Yet, over a year has elapsed, and the difficulties spawned by the construction continue unabated.
“During one instance, for three full days, a construction flagger prohibited customers from accessing our store’s entrance. It prompted me to shift from mere impatience to a protective ‘mama-bear’ mentality,” recounted Huchkowski.
“Given that our clientele frequently requires a vehicle to transport 25-pound (11 kg) bags of dog food, accessible parking is a necessity,” she emphasized. Meghan Huchkowski expressed her disappointment, recounting that the completion of the Marda Loop Main Street project was projected for the summer of 2024, yet construction remains ongoing.
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Doodle Dogs stands as the latest establishment in Marda Loop to voice grievances concerning the repercussions of protracted construction. Two local dining venues, Silver Sage Beef and Diner Deluxe, are currently suing the city for $75 million, seeking to address the adverse effects the construction has wrought on businesses along 33 and 34 Avenues Southwest, aiming for class action certification.
“I anticipate that many businesses will join the class action who might not have once considered such an avenue,” commented Huchkowski. “A colleague recently expressed skepticism about legal action, but as he calculates his losses, he is reevaluating that stance.”
As Huchkowski began dismantling the storefront, local dog owner Logan McEachern visited to procure supplies for his canine companion, Zoey, as well as to bid a heartfelt goodbye to the Doodle Dogs team.
“It’s genuinely disheartening,” McEachern remarked. “I remain hopeful that the construction will ultimately benefit the community, but it’s tragic to witness the loss of cherished businesses in the interim.” Marda Loop resident Logan McEachern hopes the ongoing construction leads to long-term improvements for the community, but finds it disheartening to see local businesses suffer in the short term.
Global News
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is set to meet with Huchkowski late Wednesday afternoon; however, she remains skeptical about the prospect of the mayor altering her decision to close the Marda Loop location.
Huchkowski and her brother still operate three additional Doodle Dogs outlets across Calgary and maintain an online retail platform. Nonetheless, she expressed, “I regret that we couldn’t sustain our business here.”
Source link: Globalnews.ca.
