Businesses in Windsor's West End still struggling due to road closures, lack of access

While the City of Windsor re-opened Tecumseh Road West, at Huron Church Road, to traffic on Sunday, businesses in the area say it's not enough.

Most of Huron Church Road has been off-limits to traffic for several days, a result of the Ambassador Bridge blockade. Many businesses on the road are difficult to access — large cement blockades line the side of the road, preventing vehicles from entering parking lots — and pedestrians and motorists have only been able to cross Huron Church Road a specific points.

While the bridge has been reopened to traffic, the city and Windsor police are allowing limited access to roads in the area out of concern more protests may start, and limit access to the bridge further (although a Superior Court judge has issued an injunction aimed at preventing that).

Surinder Khahra, owner of the Huron Church Animal Hospital, said the last two weeks have been "terrible," and he's worried the business won't be able to stay open much longer.

"My business is almost closed," he said, and while staff are attending work, nobody is booking appointments.

"We are unable to serve our clients," Khahra said. "People are having great difficulty [finding] it."

He said people coming from the east side of Huron Church Road are getting lost, and unable to find their way to the clinic. The lack of access means no walk-in appointments are happening, either, Khahra said.

"It's a very difficult situation for me," he said. "Every day, the expense is there. Medicine, staff, mortgages ... city taxes."

Mohammad Mehravari, owner of Windsor Kabob House on Mill Street — west of Huron Church Road — said his business has been struggling, as well.

"We lost about 70 to 80 per cent of the business," he said. "It was very hard."

"I have a difficulty to even pay the rent of the place, not mentioning everything else, like paying for the staff and paying for the material."

Mehravari said while financial aid would help, what's really needed is Huron Church Road re-opened to traffic so customers — many of whom don't live in the area — can access the restaurant.

Pardhyl Jaha, manager and cook at Hi-Ho Classic Diner on Huron Church Road, said the last two weeks have been difficult there, as well.

He said the restaurant couldn't be opened during the Ambassador Bridge blockade.