Some ByWard Market vendors say they’re getting their money back after a difficult summer at the Vendor Village, a shipping-container pilot project that won’t become a permanent fixture in the Market. The project opened in May along George Street with the goal of attracting more visitors and to create more opportunities for local businesses. But some vendors say poor foot traffic and disappointing sales left them struggling financially. Darwin Radke, who operates Ottawa by Design and Da Baby Canada, was among the vendors who took part. When CTV News Ottawa spoke with him in May, he was optimistic about the project and its potential to become a permanent attraction. Five months later, his opinion has changed. “That pilot just drove that airplane right into the ground,” he said. “That was historically bad.” Radke, who has operated in the ByWard Market for more than 16 years, says his businesses lost thousands of dollars during the pilot. He says he paid $820 a month in rent and has been told he will be refunded for the months he participated. “The refund definitely helps, it really does,” Radke said. “However, it’s like throwing a nickel down a well for us.” Radke says he realized within weeks that the new location wasn’t working. He asked to return to his previous spot on York Street and was eventually able to move back in July. “We’re glad to be back here, quite frankly, because now we can make money again,” he said. He blames the Village’s location, nearby construction and a lack of signage for keeping customers away. “I heard that all the time. ‘Oh, you’re here. Oh, we didn’t see you.’ Of course you didn’t see us,” he said. Some haven’t received refunds Other vendors reported similar challenges. Farnoosh Fahim, who operated Skyroot Arts, says shipping containers offered some advantages, including better protection for merchandise from the weather and additional security. However, she says the location needed more advertising to attract customers. Fahim described the summer as an expensive experience for her small business. “We survived, but I’m here not for hobby. I’m here for money,” she said. Unlike Radke, Fahim says she hasn’t been notified about any refunds. “I didn’t hear about that,” she told CTV News Ottawa, adding that she plans to contact management to find out whether she is eligible. Fahim also says she wasn’t aware the Vendor Village was a pilot project when she initially signed up, adding that she might have reconsidered participating had she known. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) said the project was always intended to be temporary. “It was communicated as a pilot to all participants from the outset and was intended to help us learn how this kind of programming could work in the District,” the authority said. The BMDA also confirmed it has decided not to make the Vendor Village permanent. “Following the pilot, the BMDA has decided that the Vendor Village will not become a permanent fixture at ByWard Market,” the statement reads. The authority says it worked with vendors throughout the pilot to address concerns and that lessons learned will help guide future initiatives in the ByWard Market. CTV News Ottawa has also asked the BMDA to clarify which vendors will receive refunds, how much will be reimbursed and when payments can be expected. Its statement did not address those questions. Despite the difficulties, Radke says he’s optimistic about the future of the ByWard Market under new management. “We are very, very excited that moving forward, we’re going to be having somebody there that we feel is in our corner that will help the vendors succeed,” he said.
