Closure of Dunn's eatery in ByWard Market: proprietor laments collective pain felt
Rewritten Article:
The ByWard Market, a longtime Ottawa landmark, is battling issues such as safety concerns, business shutdowns, and homelessness. After a 18-year run, Dunn's Famous Deli has joined the list of businesses that have shut their doors in the area.
Owner Russell Garland attributes the closure of Dunn's in late March to rising safety worries and a decrease in tourist footfall. In an interview, he stated, "Homelessness, drugs, shootings and stabbings... People don't want to come downtown if they're fretting about their safety." Garland also shared that his employee count has dropped from 60 to roughly 20.
Against this backdrop, the province unveiled plans to invest $20 million to revamp the downtown district to boost both safety and economic growth. According to the initiative, about $11.8 million will be allocated to make William Street a pedestrian-only path and to renovate Market Square, transforming it into a seasonal road that allows traffic and parking for most of the year, barring the summer months when it turns pedestrian-only. These improvements are part of a build-up to the Market's 200th birthday in 2027.
The City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service introduced the Neighbourhood Operations Centre in June 2024 to enhance police presence. However, Garland has reportedly noticed no improvement in either tourism levels or safety. He also shared a worrying incident where it took the police 25 minutes to respond, leaving his staff feeling uneasy.
Speaking about the rising homelessness crisis, in October 2024, 2,952 individuals reported experiencing homelessness according to the City of Ottawa's Point in Time Count, a 340-person increase from October 2021. Many homeless individuals can be found in and around the Market area.
Other businesses, such as Blue Cactus Bar and Grill, Oz Kafe, the Courtyard Restaurant, and Saslove's Meat Market, have also called it quits in the past year. Saslove's, which has been in operation for 7 decades, is a particularly notable absence.
Garland lamented that almost every business in the Market is grappling with similar predicaments and reaching a breaking point. "If we're hurting, everybody's hurting," he said.
Rebecca Ulrich, a lifetime Ottawa resident, has seen the Market's decline as "steady and disappointing." Ulrich expressed her dismay about the Market's state, stating it's "hard for everyone. Nobody asks to be homeless, but nobody wants to run a business in an unsafe area."
As spring approaches and temperatures warm, the ByWard Market enters its "high season," typically attracting about 50,000 visitors on weekends, according to the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA). While business closures have become commonplace, there is hope for revitalization.
Zachary Dayler, executive director of the BMDA, said the closures signify a broader shift in the retail industry. Dayler added, "We want to see businesses succeed." He believes that ongoing development in and around the Market, such as new businesses, hotels, and residential growth, could pave the way for a revitalized retail landscape.
Further Reports:
The Ottawa Police Service is pushing for a revised community-oriented approach to enhance safety and better engage with the community in the ByWard Market. This strategy aims to address public safety concerns more efficiently[1].
Despite the ongoing efforts to revitalize the Market, challenges remain. Business closures and the interconnected problems of safety, tourism, and economic stability continue to be pressing issues[4]. Addressing these concerns will be crucial for the Market's successful revival.
[1] [https://focusonthe613.com/2025/01/ottawa-police-service-unveils-updated-strategy-for-byward-market-crime-prevention/][2] [https://ontariostart.ca/newsroom/2024/12/25/byward-market-downtown-ottawa-get-20-million-investment/][3] [https://ottawamagazine.com/news/2024/12/city-staff-working-towards-200th-anniversaries-of-bytown-and-the-byward-market/][4] [https://cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/byward-market-ottawa-covid-homelessness-1.6235191][5] [https://ottawastudentpress.com/articles/33572/byward-market-student-proposal]
- The closure of Dunn's Famous Deli in the ByWard Market, a longtime Ottawa landmark, is a reflection of the area's increasing safety concerns and decreasing tourism.
- Owner Russell Garland attributes the closure of Dunn's to rising safety worries and a decline in footfall of tourists, citing homelessness, drugs, shootings, and stabbings as major concerns.
- In an effort to boost safety and economic growth, the province has announced a $20 million investment to revamp the downtown district, including turning Market Square into a seasonal pedestrian-only road.
- Despite the introduction of the Neighbourhood Operations Centre by the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service in 2024, business owner Russell Garland has reported no improvement in either tourism levels or safety.
- In October 2024, the City of Ottawa's Point in Time Count reported a 340-person increase in homeless individuals compared to October 2021, many of whom can be found in and around the Market area.
- Other businesses such as Blue Cactus Bar and Grill, Oz Kafe, the Courtyard Restaurant, and Saslove's Meat Market have also closed their doors in the past year, with Saslove's, a 7-decade old establishment, being a particularly notable absence.
