“I’m not sure how we will survive as a business.”
With construction season plans stretching far ahead, small businesses on the corner of Highway 12 and Loewen Boulevard are feeling the strain.
“It was a big hit,” says Jatin, owner of Pita Pit. “When we were told that there would be construction, we knew that things were going to be really, really tough for us.”
The company was under the impression that construction would last until October 2024, but that date was quickly pushed back, with the current and very real possibility of construction continuing well into the winter months… and possibly beyond.
“People used to have access to Pita Pit from Loewen Boulevard, which was open for some time, but then it got closed, and now people can’t even see us. There are a lot of issues around it- we’ve lost nearly 50% of customer traffic.”
Jatin has written to both the mayor of Steinbach and the chief engineer on the construction project. He has received a response from the chief engineer.
Taking matters into his own hands, Jatin tries to keep a good rapport with all his customers regardless of what’s going on outside their doors. The most effective method he and his partner have found is for one of them to be on-site at all times.
“Having the owners there creates a lot of positive vibes. We’ve done it since the time we opened months ago.”
For those who aren’t in the know, Pita Pit offers in-house dining, takeaway, and catering for their wide variety of salads, rice bowls, and, of course, pitas.
“We do a lot of catering for office parties, get-togethers, and schools. Right now, we’re also doing catering for a hockey team- whenever they travel around for their games, we pack up pitas, cookies, and a bottle of water, so that every teammate has a lunch to take along.”
With a menu full of fresh vegetables, seasoned meats and vegetarian proteins, and even gluten-free options for sauces and pitas, Pita Pit is great place to go for a quick lunch that is healthy, affordable, and customizable.
Recently, signs directing traffic towards the entrance to Pita Pit have been put up in the construction area.
“That’s an additional effort that we had to make, because people were missing that small little turn. Which, understandably, is not an actual entrance for Pita Pit, but rather the entrance for the shared parking lot.”
He acknowledges the directions are a little roundabout, and expresses gratitude to all the loyal customers who have been both patient and supportive. Jatin notes that a good number of his regular clients are making an effort to frequent the restaurant as much as possible because they understand the stress that construction has put on the business.
“I’m really, really thankful for those loyal customers.”
Pita Pit is in the same building as Service Canada and Cell Mechanics- use any of these landmarks to guide your way to Pita Pit, just off Highway 12 in Steinbach. The restaurant also offers deliveries through Skip The Dishes- order online here.