By Mike Anderson
Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, Lake-View Grocery and Variety owners Angelo Stamboultzis and his son, James, have never faced so many challenges to their family business.
According to James, sales have fallen 50 percent this summer because of the Town’s Multi-Use Path (MUP), competition from Willow Beach vendors, and the construction-related closure of Willow Wharf Park and the beach during York Region’s upgrade of the Georgina Water Treatment Plant, which have kept tourists away from their 437 Lake Drive East location.
“There’s no access to us, and the one-way direction of traffic continues to be a problem,” James said. “There’s also constant construction, dirt and machinery going back and forth. And no access to the beach. They did set up a little section of two tables, but that’s all they did for us.”
James says the Town did little to help mitigate the impacts of construction, while York Region put up some signage that wasn’t very effective.
“They put some signs up, directing people to an ice cream stand, but we’re not an ice cream stand,” he laughed.
“It was very confusing. Some people found it very difficult to get to us because the detour signs were not really displayed well.”
“We had customers tell us it was like a mission to get here,” he said. “The one-way street made it especially difficult for tourists who weren’t familiar with the area.”
James also says the Town’s pop-up beach vendor program has hurt their business. He says beachgoers who once walked to the store for BBQ sausages or hot dogs now buy them in the park.
He doesn’t understand why Town Council voted to remove vendors from De La Salle Park but allowed them to stay in Willow Beach.
“We’ve always had people come from Willow Beach to our location. We’re going to try to fight this,” he said.
“But I’m one voice; unless I get the backing of support from the Jackson’s Point BIA, or residents that would say, you know, this business has been here for a long time. We want them to be here. We don’t want them gone.”
James would also like local businesses affected by construction to be compensated for lost sales. In his case, the work has blocked access to his store from Metro Road and is expected to continue until late 2027.
“They should compensate us. These are businesses. These are livelihoods. They have invested so much money and time into the business,” he said.
He points out that most small businesses operate on slim margins and don’t have cash reserves to get them through a major disruption, like construction that lasts two years.
“How can we put money aside if the economy is not booming? It’s not that easy. Not everyone can put money aside. Not every business is making big money,” he said.
“The margins on ice cream and hot dogs are not major. You’re hoping on volume, which you have in the summertime. Just selling to residents is not enough.”
James says his parents have owned the business for 40 years, and a store has been in that location since 1905. He says they don’t have plans to sell, but he doesn’t rule it out.
In addition to banning food vendors from Willow Beach, he also wants beachgoers to have in-and-out parking privileges so they can visit local businesses without losing their parking spots.
“That allows the person to go to a local business. Right now, they’re designing it so people come to the beach, eat at the beach, stay at the beach, and drive home. This doesn’t support local businesses. This will destroy local businesses.”
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