The COVID-19 pandemic had long-lasting effects on small businesses and the owner of Dress People, Rehana Khan, is feeling them.
“We love our community. We love dressing up all the lovely girls from their first communion to their Grade 8 grad, to their prom, and then to their wedding dresses,” Khan said.
Downtown Brampton is filled with many activities, with Gage Park being a frequently discussed and used place for the community.
Four Corners is a well-known name among the residents as a place where locals can experience the small-town feel while surrounded by the Greater Toronto Area.
An abundance of stores line the sides of the streets with various products for sale and owners ready to greet you.
“You have to stay inventive. You have to think about new things because the world is changing. So, your store and what you have in your store has to change as well,” said Ebby O’Malley, a co-owner of ReStyle Beauty Boutique.
From left to right: The mother (Ebby) and daughter (Emma) duo, co-owners of the ReStyle Beauty Boutique in downtown Brampton. Photo credit: Leshae Barrett
She said having a store that caters to customers’ needs rather than just sticking to the same thing is important for small businesses.
“So, we always look forward to new things,” O’Malley said.
Some of these stores have been there for more than a few years while others are younger and just starting.
The owner of Stephan’s Fur, Irene Ongaro, has been in downtown Brampton for more than 40 years and has seen this community grow in many ways.
Irene Ongaro, the owner of Stephan's Fur in Downtown Brampton. Photo credit: Leshae Barrett
“Businesses come and go. It’s nice to see some of the young people starting up businesses,” she said.
Ongaro said she appreciates the community around her and their support, especially during trying times like during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 restrictions were a big challenge for many businesses, especially small ones that never got much foot traffic like larger stores.
According to a Statistics Canada report, the employment per person rate was at a negative 15.9 per cent in April 2020.
A line graph provided by Stat CAN on Employment rate, per person, from 2020 to 2023. Photo credit: Screengrab & Statistics Canada
Retail trade sales were also at their lowest around that time, at minus 31.6 per cent.
But even surviving the lockdown period, businesses are closing their doors.
Overall, Brampton has been doing well since the pandemic based on Geo hub Brampton’s total number of business chart which the City of Brampton is keeping track of.
Total Number of Business in a bar graph provided by Geohub Brampton - City of Brampton. With data ranging from 2015 to 2022. Photo credit: Screengrab, GeohubBrampton & City of Brampton
During the years that COVID-19 was prominent, the number of businesses increased slowly but the jump from 2021 to 2022 is much larger.
There were 81,494 businesses open in 2021 compared to the count of 92,159 businesses that were documented in 2022.
In total, that is a 10,665 increase in one year as businesses started to pop up more as lockdown restrictions started to decrease.
Stores like the ReStyle Beauty Boutique, run by a mother-and-daughter duo, Ebby and Emma O’Malley, have been around for eight years.
With no intention of slowing down, these two put their all into keeping their business going and providing for their customers and community.
“We definitely love to bring new events and life to our boutique,” Emma O’Malley said. “We don’t just sell clothes. We sell an experience.”
Dress People is closing after many years of selling dresses for special occasions.
Khan said sticking to it as an owner of a store is important, especially if what is being done is well-loved.
She was a little misty-eyed as she said she would miss running her store which has been in downtown Brampton for years and has served many.
“I think it is time for us to branch out, and maybe retire,” she said. “So, that’s where we are kinda headed. But we will definitely miss our community.”