STRATFORD New business openings in Stratford are outpacing closures, marking a sign the Festival City s economy is beginning to rebound after being clobbered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many businesses to permanently close, including about 15 in Stratford since March 2020. When you hear something is closing, it is sad, said Rebecca Scott, general manager of the Stratford City Centre BIA. The impact has been great. Last year, the Stratford Festival season was cancelled – a summer-long event that usually draws thousands of tourists to the small town each day – dealing a major blow to many small businesses.
Article content
The cancellation of the Stratford Festival at the beginning of the pandemic last year sent shockwaves through this part of Southwestern Ontario, a rural arts and manufacturing hub where popular eateries and quaint mom-and-pop shops rely heavily on tourism dollars.
When that traditionally reliable economic boost evaporated last spring, observers in Stratford were rightfully concerned about whether the city’s small businesses could survive.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. Business openings in Stratford outpacing closures during the pandemic Back to video
A year and a half later, though, as the province gradually begins to reopen from a third shutdown, the picture in Stratford is looking brighter than many people expected.