ManitobaTefere Kahsay, owner of Graham Convenience Store at the corner of Graham Avenue and Vaughan Street, says there has been an 85 per cent decline in customer traffic since buses were pulled off Graham.Transit network launched June 29 pulled buses off downtown streetZubina Ahmed · CBC News · Posted: Aug 26, 2025 3:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoTefere Kahsay, who owns Graham Convenience Store in downtown Winnipeg, says he’s losing business from bus users who shopped in his store before the recent revamp of the city’s transit system. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)Several businesses along Graham Avenue in downtown Winnipeg are reporting a significant drop in sales following the recent revamp of the city’s transit system.Shop owners say the changes have reduced foot traffic in the area, especially from customers who previously relied on bus routes that ran directly along the street. Tefere Kahsay, owner of Graham Convenience Store at the corner of Graham and Vaughan Street, says there has been an 85 per cent decline in customer traffic since buses were pulled off from Graham. “Pretty much we open for 12 hours, but no customers now,” Kahsay said.”We had good business, with a lot of walk-ins, a lot of bus-shelter people come in, but right now, with the change of buses, our business has slowed down.”Tefere Kahsay, owner of Graham Convenience Store at the corner of Graham Avenue and Vaughan Street in downtown Winnipeg, says there has been an 85 per cent decline in customer traffic since buses were pulled off Graham. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)On June 29, Winnipeg Transit switched its network from the decades-old “hub-and-spoke” model, which had buses meandering through outlying neighbourhoods before heading downtown, to a new “spine-and-feeder” system, featuring straighter routes along major streets, and smaller routes connecting to residential areas.The changes removed approximately 1,200 bus stops, with the goal of making trips faster and schedules more reliable. Kahsay, who has been running his store for a decade, says he has reduced the amount of stock he brings in as his business has slowed down.He used to have 270 customers a day and 300 to 400 on weekends, and now he has just 80 customers a day, he said.”At noon, this area was very busy. I opened at 5:30 in the morning and it was packed, but now it’s all empty.”His shop now just has some construction workers coming by, he said.”I work only for them,” he said. “When these people go, we don’t have anybody.”He let one employee go and reduced the hours of another, and a lot of items in the store are expiring, because there are hardly any customers, he said.If this continues, he might have to change locations or ask the building owner to reduce the rent, which doubled when he expanded the store two years ago, he said.”I am looking for a better place, if possible. I want to get another convenience store,” he said. “I don’t know what to do. We are looking for something different.” He hopes the buses return.”I pray for that because I love this business,” he said.”If it continues like this, I can’t do this business.”Helen Kahsay, who is not related to Tefere Kahsay, says Dan’s Cafe and Lounge has lost almost 50 to 60 per cent of their customers with the transit changes. (Ron Dhaliwal/CBC)Helen Kahsay, who runs her family-owned business Dan’s Cafe and Lounge on Edmonton Street at Graham, says they lost almost 50 to 60 per cent of their business this summer because of the transit changes. “A lot of people taking buses would come in here to pick up and grab coffee, cappuccinos, pastries and cakes, and now that has stopped.”Helen Kahsay also hopes for changes and improvements. Kate Fenske, CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, acknowledged the issue in a statement to CBC.”We’ve heard how the loss of daily transit riders has had a negative impact on some of the businesses,” she said.”We typically see a dip in foot traffic during the summer months, but we understand some businesses are experiencing a more significant decline in customers than they would typically see.”Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is “listening closely to those businesses” and plans to monitor foot traffic into the fall to assess what’s working and how they can help address concerns, Fenske said.City Coun. Sherri Rollins said the city anticipated disruptions when transit was removed from Graham Avenue. She urges businesses to “hang in there” and wait, because some new foot traffic and customers are emerging, she said.Rollins is open to meeting business owners and will be downtown to engage further with them, she said. Sales slump for Graham Avenue businesses after transit overhaulSeveral businesses along Graham Avenue in downtown Winnipeg say they’re seeing a significant drop in sales following the recent revamp of the city’s transit system. Shop owners say foot traffic has dropped in the area, as bus routes that ran directly along Graham have now been changed. ABOUT THE AUTHORZubina Ahmed is a reporter for CBC Manitoba. During her decade-long career in the Middle East and India, she covered news for sectors including politics, retail, sustainability, health care, technology, community initiatives and lifestyle. She can be reached at zubina.ahmed@cbc.ca.
Businesses on Graham Avenue see sales slump after Winnipeg Transit overhaul
