Local food businesses build community and profits with the help of social media
The Great Canadian Poutinerie sits in the heart of a kilometre-long commercial stretch of Bank Street in Ottawa’s Centretown. Mustard-yellow crossing signs along its bustling sidewalks match the restaurant’s retro storefront. A small black sign outside the entrance frames a cartoon of Patrick Morin, who recently went viral online for his General Tso -flavoured poutine — a testament to the...
Ottawa entrepreneurs test demand for New York-style bagels with pop-ups
Small business Baci's Bagels is bringing New-York inspired bagels into the capital city. The couple behind it talks about their plans and popular bagel pop-ups.
Ottawa secondhand bookstore starts a second chapter
Ray and Trish Tropiano have opened a second location of Re-Read Used Books in Riverside South.
Indigenous group aims to help small businesses thrive in the digital economy
Ashley-Rose Machendagoos, an Ojibway woman who owns a business selling beaded earrings and beaded kits, says she struggles with all the technology required to have an online store.
ByWard Market William Street pedestrian project delayed over fears of impacts on businesses
The plan to transform William Street into a permanent pedestrian-only street is on hold and Ottawa city councillors are questioning why that decision was made without council’s approval.
Craft breweries must find ways to adapt to declining beer consumption in Canada
As consumers continue to turn away from craft beer and amid closures of microbreweries, one craft brewer says he still optimistic about his industry.
Beer festival a reminder of the quality of local suds as U.S. booze ban hits one year
It's been exactly one year since the Ford government pulled U.S. liquor from LCBO shelves and one local beer maker says he's worried more about American suppliers than he is about his own business.
More than murals: Paint It Up! builds youth skills and neighbourhood pride in Ottawa
Tucked away on Wellington Street West, a vibrant peafowl fans its feathers across the side of a barbershop, a splash of colour that serves as a point of pride for area residents. Since its completion last year, “The Proudest Plumage” has drawn visitors, sparked conversations and helped community members see themselves reflected in the public space around them. The mural...
Restaurants Canada opens Ottawa office as push for no-tax dining ramps up
Toronto-based Restaurants Canada has opened a new Ottawa office, signalling the advocacy group’s determination to bolster its presence on Parliament Hill at time when it’s pushing the federal government to make dining out tax-free. The nonprofit association recently announced its Ottawa expansion as a bid to “engage directly with federal decision-makers and strengthen our voice on Parliament Hill.” “It’s just...
Eating local: Restaurants seek the perfect mix of social media presence and influencer content
Food businesses and influencers are using social media platforms to reach new customers.
Meeting the public where they are, a fifth-generation Ottawa butcher shop thrives on social media
The Butchery in Ottawa gaining social media traction is a "big deal" says expert.
AI and GLAM: Emerging tech is changing museums and libraries
Pressure to apply AI tools to museum and gallery work is making professionals worry about how to preserve information they’ve been entrusted to protect.
Social media and personalization drive nail art trends in Ottawa
Across Ottawa, nail art is more than beauty, it’s identity. And one student nail artist is helping define the look.
As coffee prices climb, cafés and consumers have a decision to make
Coffee prices are rising because several factors leaving Canadian consumers juggling choices.
As Lansdowne 2.0 becomes the new reality, Beandigen Café and other affected shops left without answers
Small businesses in Lansdowne are unsure how they will cope with new construction plans and relocation.
The ink is drying: Ottawa’s downtown tattoo shops are fading
Oversaturation of the market and issues with operating downtown have forced some longtime tattoo businesses in Ottawa to close.
University students under ‘stress’ as rent prices increase rapidly
The cost of rent in Canada has risen 5.2 per cent since October 2024, well above the overall inflation rate of 2.2 per cent, Capital Current’s analysis of data Statistics Canada data shows. That is hard to manage for anyone who rents but for university students it can been very difficult. For this cohort, low-cost, short-term rental units are vital....
Turning a page? Bookworms taking stock because of rising prices
Rising cost of paper and shipping is forcing up prices for books.
Tracey Clark builds community one cup — or slice — at a time
The former CEO of Bridgehead is now busy in the pizza business.
Holiday shopping lists shorter, more practical, say local market-goers
Ottawa shoppers say worry over rising costs is pushing them toward smaller holiday budgets. A BMO survey confirms that.
BookTok turns a page in Ottawa’s literary scene
What began as a niche online community for book lovers has evolved in just a few years into one of the most influential forces in publishing, and Ottawa’s bookstores are feeling the effects.
Christine Crump: Hard Rock’s powerhouse with a heart
Christine Crump has spent more than 25 years in the gaming industry. She is known for her people-first leadership philosophy and commitment to philanthropy. Her work leading Ottawa’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, along with her philanthropic ventures, reflects the values that have guided her for her entire career.
Housing helper: Jason Burggraaf advocates for Ottawa’s builders
Jason Burggraaf is a voice for homebuilders in Ottawa.
As Starbucks shuts Ottawa locations, coffee drinkers turn to local cafés for a better experience
As Starbucks shutters nine Ottawa locations amid declining sales, local coffee lovers are finding comfort and community in the city’s independent cafés.
With half of reported thefts in Somerset Ward on Bank Street, small businesses are calling for police support
Capital Current has found that 44 per cent of thefts in Somerset Ward occur on a stretch of Bank Street running from MacLaren to McLeod streets.
Improving Centretown accessibility frustrated by ‘ignorance, attitude’ and available funds for small businesses, advocates say
As the 2025 AODA deadline passes, Ottawa advocates and small businesses call for stronger support.
ByWard Market thefts down but businesses aren’t feeling the relief
Crimes in the ByWard Market are down but some wonder if residents are no longer reporting incidents to police out of frustration.
‘Special’ Nepean bookstore closing after 50 years
After 50 years of business, The Book Market Nepean will close it's doors soon.
Some Ottawa Metro stores reduce daily student discount to once a week as food insecurity rises
Some Metro grocery stores in Ottawa are cutting a daily discount for students to once a week as the affordability crisis continues to grow in the capital.
Some Ottawa businesses see strong summer rebound as tourists return in force to the capital
Ottawa saw a surge in tourism this past summer with July and August setting records.
‘A trailblazer’: Trina Mather-Simard shows the way for Indigenous tourism
Trina Mather-Simard's career has involved horses, festivals and workshops — but through it all, growing Indigenous tourism has always been at the heart of her work.
Joel Kowalski brings whitewater adventure and a new beachside café to Ottawa’s waterfront
Former professional kayaker, Joel Kowalski, has turned his passion into a career as the president of Wilderness Tours. He is expanding the business into Ottawa with a new seasonal café and rentals at Westboro Beach.
Jessica Traina curates what Ottawa has to offer
Jessica Traina has turned a way to explore Ottawa into a career as an local content creator, sharing guides and tips with thousands of followers.
Ottawa’s first Craig’s Cookies shop draws Canada Day crowd in ByWard Market
José Mari Perez says the smell of freshly baked, candy-filled cookies wafting through Union Station draws him in every time he visits Toronto. On Canada Day, he got the chance to try the treats from the popular Toronto-based chain, Craig’s Cookies, at its new location in the ByWard Market on George Street. “I’ve been to the shop in Toronto multiple...
Stella Luna hopes ByWard Market-goers chill out with pop-up gelato this summer
An Ottawa father-son duo is transforming a ByWard Market landmark this summer into a family-friendly spot serving what may be the city’s most recognizable gelato – for better or for worse. In March 2024, Jonah Trevor-Deutsch, 31, purchased the Old Ottawa South location of Stella Luna Gelato Café with the help of his father, Lawry, 68, of Dreammind Hospitality Group....
‘A big shift’: Centretown business owner hopeful as city proposes façade fund
Historic buildings in Centretown may soon be eligible to receive funding from the city for something that’s often relegated to the bottom of a business owner’s to-do list: Beautification. On Tuesday, Ottawa’s built heritage committee unveiled a $500,000 Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program. If approved by council, it could allow property owners of buildings along Bank and a small...
Huge turnout to career fair reflects growth and strength of Ottawa’s film industry
In Ottawa, the lights are on, the cameras are focussed and the action is accelerating as evidenced by a recent job fair at Ottawa City Hall that drew some 1,000 hopefuls looking for a place in the growing local film industry. The growth is also evidenced in $52 million generated for Ottawa’s economy by the local film industry. But the...
‘If we’re hurting, everybody’s hurting’: Dunn’s closes ByWard Market eatery
After an 18-year run, Dunn’s Famous Deli is joining the growing list of businesses that have closed in the ByWard Market. After surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and an ever-changing business landscape, Russell Garland, Dunn’s owner, says rising safety concerns and a lack of tourists as the main reasons for the restaurant’s closure in late March. “Homelessness, drugs, shootings and stabbings....
Trade war tactics: Outdoor markets highlight value of buying local
Ottawa Street Markets founder shares why buying Canadian is important during the U.S.- Canada trade war.
Can I Skate? Ottawa couple develops app tracking Rideau Canal ice conditions
Skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway was always a family affair for the Owens. Every February, Stephen and Leslie Owens would drive more than four hours from Caledon, Ont. to visit their son Tyler in Ottawa. The couple, their sister and their two sons would spend Family Day on the Canal. “That’s been a tradition since I arrived (in Ottawa),”...
As Canada’s big banks leave Net-Zero alliance, young people think about alternatives
The move by Canada’s biggest financial institutions to walk away from the UN-backed Net-Zero Banking Alliance has many Gen Z young people pondering a breakup with their bank, though some admit that the convenience is a major stumbling block.
Some Ottawa restaurants say tax holiday made little difference to their business
While data suggests Ontario’s restaurant industry experienced an increase in dining over the recently implemented tax holiday, some Ottawa restaurant workers say they did not really notice any impact.
‘They’re saving money on the bill:’ How Canada’s GST break has taken a bite out of tips
Jeff Rheaume works the Monday night shift on Feb. 3 at his restaurant, The Broadway Bar & Grill Ottawa. [Photo by Mia Parker/Capital Current]
Tariffs could worsen Ontario rental market, expert says
Carleton University student Grace Rhodes hasn’t bought new clothes in two years. “I definitely don’t do stuff because I don’t have the money,” said Rhodes, who rents a home with five other students. Rhodes said the “crazy” state of the rental market makes it hard to afford student life and has already quashed her hopes of home ownership. “Absolutely not...
The price drop: Cheaper alcohol boosting family-owned convenience stores
Meet and Yashaswy Patel, two brothers living in Ottawa, have owned a convenience store called Our Neighbourhood Store for the past six months where the Patels know all about fluctuating prices for groceries, snacks and now alcohol. The presence of alcoholic beverages for sale in convenience stores started last fall when the province of Ontario increased the market for selling...
Making ends ‘meat:’ How an Ottawa deli is managing rising costs
For Paolo Di Rienzo, slinging hearty sandwiches and homemade cannolis has been the name of the game for decades now. Di Rienzo’s Deli and Grocery, on the corner of Beech Street and Champagne Avenue in Little Italy, has been a staple for many since 1973. Despite being a fixture of the authentic eats in Ottawa for more than 50 years...
Tax experts question Canada’s expensive and overly broad GST ‘holiday’
As the holiday season approaches, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's GST tax break promises to provide some financial relief to Canadians, but critics argue it’s a short-term solution with political motives.
Vendors welcome a longer-running Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park
The crackle of fire under joyful Christmas music meant one thing for visitors to Lansdowne Park on Nov. 22: the annual Ottawa Christmas Market had begun.
Small businesses struggle with costs, loss of business as Canada Post strike continues
As the Canada Post strike drags on, small businesses are struggling with higher-cost alternatives for shipping while they try to retain their customers.
Pressure to tip more is starting to annoy Canadians
With tipping expectations on the rise, the pressure on service industry members and customers alike is creating tension.