Gutted after ‘no one came’ to event, downtown Edmonton restaurant not giving up
A downtown Edmonton restaurant is struggling to maintain business amid a wave of closures in the area caused by construction and low foot traffic. Despite a failed community event, the owners remain committed to keeping their doors open.
Why it matters
The story reflects broader economic challenges facing urban small businesses in post-pandemic city centers.
Imagine throwing a party and no one shows up.
That’s exactly what happened to downtown Edmonton restaurant Don’ya Ukraine’s Kitchen.
Its free Zumba class scheduled for this past Sunday saw nobody attend, despite invites being sent to 13,000 people, with several even registering for the class.
“Downtown isn’t always easy,” the restaurant wrote on social media Monday. “Yesterday, we showed up, set everything up, and waited… but no one came.
“Of course it’s disappointing. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that building community means showing up — even when it’s hard.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by DON’YA Ukraine’s Kitchen (@ukraineskitchen)
Don’ya tried again, rescheduling the class for Tuesday. This time, a few people showed up.
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