‘Worse than COVID’ says east Toronto shopkeeper, as local businesses struggle to remain afloat amid Ontario Line construction

Greek World manager Luis Alcantara, left, stands next to owner George Charalambous outside the Pape Avenue shop. (Joanna Lavoie/CP24)

East Toronto retailer George Charalambous fears 2025 may spell the end of his long-standing business, Greek World.

Charalambous’s store is located on the same stretch of Pape Avenue, near Cosburn Avenue, where contractors for Metrolinx are replacing and relocating sewers in preparation for the excavation and construction of the Ontario Line’s future Cosburn Station. This work began in earnest in late November and is expected to last about four months.

“People think we’re closed. … We’re supposed to be making the sales we need to survive the slower time in the winter, but that didn’t happen this year,” Charalambou told CP24.com.

“We’ve had some tough years, but this is worse than COVID.”

Long-time store manager Luis Alcantara, the shop’s only employee, called the situation a “gong show.”

“Right now, it’s like David and Goliath. We’re grasping at straws here,” he said.

“Our business is down significantly. It’s a ghost town.”

Charalambous said next to the summer, the holidays are their busiest time of the year. But that wasn’t the case this past December.

“I’m at the point now where I’m going to have to use my own line of credit and we’ll see where things go in the next few months,” Charalambous, who is a schoolteacher by trade, shared.

“I’d be devastated if we lost the business.”

To make ends meet, he said that he has been selling his wares at various markets and events and will have to pick up some supply teaching jobs as well. But even then, it might not be enough to remain afloat, Charalambous admitted.

A few doors up, Caroline Song is also wondering how she’s going to keep open the doors of her convenience store, 1000 Variety/1000 Vape, which is almost completely surrounded by dark green construction fencing.

“It’s really tough for me. … A lot of people are surprised that I’m open,” said Song, who purchased the usually-busy corner store about a year ago and has invested in a number of upgrades to the space, including putting in a new door.

“Business is down a lot. It’s over 50 per cent less since the construction started. It’s a mess and no business.”

Because of the work, she said she can no longer access her parking spot and is unable to sell plants, like the former owner did, in the small area next to her store.

“I put that on hold. This whole year I just can’t do that. Next year, I don’t know,” Song said.

“It’s just really inconvenient to bring stuff here.”

Song said she knew that there would be construction on Pape when she bought the store, but didn’t anticipate that it would impact her business to such an extent and last so long.

Song said there’s been construction off and on outside her store since last spring.

She said that she has contacted Metrolinx for compensation, but has yet to hear back.

Helen Markopoulos has owned Nitsa’s Hosiery Co. since 1986.

Her women’s clothing shop is located in the same block as Charalambous’ and Song’s stores.

“After COVID business was bad, but now with this construction, it’s worse,” she told CP24.com.

“This year I didn’t bring in any new merchandise because I knew it was going to be bad.”

Markopoulos, who owns the building, said she plans to close her establishment likely sometimes in the next few months and rent the space to someone else.

“There’s still bills to pay,” she said.

This wasn’t the way the 80-year-old entrepreneur planned to retire, however with years of Ontario Line construction to come Markopoulos said she has run out of options as she isn’t one to accept assistance from the government.

“Once I sell my last merchandise, that’s it,” Markopoulos said while fighting back tears.

Charalambous, who has owned and operated Greek World for 23 years, said he feels more must be done to support businesses impacted by the Ontario Line construction.

He said he’s reached out to area politicians, Metrolinx, and the Pape Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) about the challenging situation several walk-in retailers are dealing with, but says he’s has been disappointed by the lack of action.

“People need to know what’s going on,” Charalambous said.

“It’s going to be the end of an era if this continues, and nobody cares.”

Local MPP Peter Tabuns agrees and is urging affected businesses to seek compensation from Metrolinx for their losses due to the Ontario Line work.

The provincial transportation agency told CP24 that it does offer compensation and support to businesses affected by transit construction projects, but on a case-by-case basis “to ensure the right solutions are in place for each business.”

“The community shouldn’t be a sacrifice zone,” added Tabuns.

“This is a $20 billion project. Metrolinx can afford to provide assistance to people who are being negatively impacted by it. They can afford it and they should do it now.”

The Toronto-Danforth representative went on to say that Metrolinx does not have a great track record of being pro-active when it comes to preventing or even reducing these kinds of negative impacts on communities.

“I think (they need) to learn from what’s happened on Eglinton. You can’t neglect local businesses,” Tabuns said.

“Everyone wants better transit in the city but for the areas, the communities where the construction is going on there needs to be consideration and investment to protect them so they don’t pay a really high price.”

Local Coun. Paula Fletcher said Metrolinx is simply not focused on being “community friendly.”

“They’re in the business of building transit. They’re just not thinking about the impact (their work) is having on businesses and neighbourhoods,” she said.

“It’s just terrible.”

The Toronto-Danfoth representative said this was also the case down at Queen Street East and Degrassi Street where loud pile driving in preparation for the Ontario Line was expected to be ongoing during the holiday season.

After consulting with the Riverside BIA, that major construction work was pushed back to the New Year and is scheduled to begin later this month to “minimize potential impacts on business,” Metrolinx said.

Fletcher said similar considerations should have been made for businesses up on Pape Avenue.

“I’m heartbroken for all of the businesses that have found themselves upended with no landing pad” she said, adding the situation is especially difficult on Pape as several buildings expropriated for the new subway line previously housed businesses between Gowan and Cosburn, but are now vacant and derelict.

Fletcher met with Metrolinx before Christmas to discuss ways to mitigate the impacts of construction of Pape Avenue businesses. She said the agency has opened a community office in some areas heavily affected by construction, but hasn’t done so along Pape so far.

Fletcher also said that Metrolinx had promised to erect ‘open for business’ signage back in November to support local shops impacted by the recent sewer replacement and relocation work, but hasn’t followed through on that commitment.

A Metrolinx spokesperson, however, said the signs are “being put up as discussed.”

The spokesperson also noted that additional community office space would be created in the future to provide “enhanced support as we move forward with this important project.”

“It’s not unreasonable to ask Metrolinx to be a good neighbour,” Fletcher said.

‘Construction of this magnitude is difficult,’ says Metrolinx

In a lengthy written statement provided to CP24, Metrolinx acknowledged that “construction of this magnitude is difficult,” but said it works “closely with business owners to minimize impacts wherever possible.”

“We work directly with the business community to provide customized supports, which includes making sure storefronts are clear and easy to access as well as providing financial support through the local BIA,” a spokesperson wrote.

“We will also be working with businesses on promotions and shop local incentives, and we also feature local businesses in our e-newsletter.”

CP24 made attempts to contact the Pape Village Business Improvement Area for comment, but we have not heard back.

Metrolinx said that is has been “in regular communication” with businesses through the Pape Village BIA “for the last four years to provide details about the project and scope of work in the Pape and Cosburn area.”

The agency also said that its team “consistently conducts door-to-door canvassing to keep local businesses informed about ongoing and upcoming work and answer any questions they may have.”

Further, Metrolinx said it meets monthly with the Pape and Danforth and Pape and Cosburn BIAs to “address their specific concerns” and has also formed a construction liaison committee for the area to “share updates and hear directly from residents and local businesses.”

“Metrolinx meets regularly with all BIAs across the project and with many individual businesses to provide project updates and to address questions or concerns,” it said.