Westdale businesses still struggling even with McMaster students back on campus
Beginning in late August, Westdale Village welcomed back familiar faces - McMaster University students. And for the businesses in the area that rely on this group of folks to sustain themselves, it was a much-needed return.
Patios began filling up, late-night UberEats deliveries spiked, and more garbage was put out on Monday mornings - telling signs business was picking up, said Tracy MacKinnon, the executive director of the Westdale BIA.
But now, even with students back on campus and a threefold" increase in business compared to last year, revenue hasn't hit pre-pandemic levels yet, local businesses say, and they're also facing staffing shortages.
With virtual classes during the 2020 academic year, at least 60 per cent of students opted not to return to Hamilton for school, MacKinnon said.
In turn, student-serving businesses in the area saw a significant decrease in revenue, especially those that accept McMaster's meal-plan cards. Landlords in the area also struggled, and some had to sell their properties, MacKinnon added.
Businesses in Westdale pivoted to serving local residents instead of their usual demographic and installed outdoor dining spaces to make the location more attractive. At the time, MacKinnon said they quickly tried to pivot" and had to be flexible" to stay afloat.
Aaron Ford from Delirious Burger, a mom-and-pop burger joint with a location on King Street West, noted residents in the area chose one night per week to support a local restaurant. They really did their part to keep local restaurants going," but without students filling the streets, it's a totally different scene," he said.
While students have returned to campus, he also said sales haven't reached pre-pandemic levels.
McMaster's new students are slowly exploring shops in the area, but without upper-year students who were on campus before the pandemic to show them the hot spots, some don't know what businesses are a few steps away from them, he said.
For the eatery that relies on word-of-mouth advertising, it's proving to be a challenge, and he doesn't expect it to change until spring.
Like others in the hospitality sector, Delirious Burger is also facing a labour shortage. They've switched to takeout only, as checking for proof of vaccination and enforcing the mask mandate became challenging for the few folks working.
We're working with a bare-minimum skeleton crew," he said.
Mamdouh Dahab, the owner of Basilique, a Mediterranean restaurant on King Street West that accepts McMaster's meal plan as a payment option, has noticed similar trends to Delirious Burger.
Pre-pandemic, Basilique would see $3,000 to $4,000 per day in sales. Now, they're pulling in less than 80 per cent of what they usually would, and are struggling to hire staff, Dahab said.
While students are back in the city and business is creeping back up, Dahab is facing other issues with the supply chain including increased costs for containers and food, as well as increase in rent for his restaurant, he said.
Delivery apps are also eating away at their profits, as most apps take around 30 per cent of the order total in commission.
Even with students back in town, Dahab said staying in business is going to be harder."
Alessia Passafiume is an intern reporter with The Spectator. Reach her via email: apassafiume@thespec.com