04-22-2020, 06:45 PM
(04-21-2020, 06:35 PM)Acitta Wrote:(04-21-2020, 06:12 PM)plam Wrote: I usually have no patience for those who claim that LRT killed their business but for the Duke Food Block it may actually be somewhat true particularly because deliveries are so hard...I think that it is mostly the lack of foot traffic along Duke St. I think that those restaurants have been surviving on lunch time traffic from the courthouse and other surrounding businesses. Most people walking along King St. probably wouldn't spontaneously decide to eat there.
You speak as if the streets are segregated. Downtown Kitchener is tiny...it's like downtown Stratford in size. People who work on King Street know there are restaurants on Duke Street. Anyone downtown knows there is a selection of hole-in-the-wall takeout places on Duke Street. There is an LRT stop a block and a half away, which should theoretically increase customers to these restaurants. Covid-19 aside, if they're struggling, it's sure as hell not due to the LRT or being a literal city block away from the "main" street. Maybe, a burger store and chain Mexican restaurant just aren't interesting?