Avenue, Sweet Avenue. OSBA assures that Whyte isn't changing.

Even after another independent business is forced to close its doors on Whyte Avenue, the Old Strathcona Business Association is confident that the area will remain unique.

When Pharos Pizza shuts down this June after over 40 years at the venue, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association (OSBA), Shirley Lowe, will still believe that locally owned restaurants and boutiques will always have a spot on Whyte Avenue.

“I think they are safe if the property owners make them safe. Our niche is independent, and as long as we can influence that, we will try,” she said.

Patrons on the other hand believe that Whyte Avenue is becoming too commercialized, and is losing this independent feel that Lowe boasts about.

Long time customer of Pharos Pizza, Laura Chee, is worried that chain restaurants and coffee shops will do away with the long history of the Old Strathcona area.

“Whyte Ave. is one of the oldest areas in Edmonton. There are so many independent and unique boutiques, but it is slowly losing its authenticity. I’m afraid that commercializing it will wipe out the history,” Chee explained.

The OSBA and Lowe couldn’t disagree more. She explained that the local businesses on Whyte Avenue still live and thrive, but the general public only notices the branded stores.

“Think of what you are trained to see. You’re trained to see the McDonalds, the fast food chain restaurants. Our local shops are less visible because they are not branded constantly,” Lowe said.

Real estate developer John Day, like Lowe, also believes the history of Whyte Avenue will still be preserved. He has owned the Garneau building since 2007, where Pharos Pizza is located. All though he is moving the restaurant out along with other surrounding businesses, he hopes to maintain the culture of the Old Strathcona area.

“The heritage is very important. We are working with the city and community to come up with eligible plans,” Day said.

He intends to keep the Garneau theater up and running, but alter the neighboring shops. They are still developing working proposals.

“There are no new tenants yet. The plan is evolving but nothing has been decided yet,” he said.

Since 2005, a Chilli’s, Subway, Starbucks, Marble Slab and Second Cup have all opened on the corner of 104 St. and 82 Ave. While that may seem like a high concentration of chain restaurants on one corner, Lowe provided a few opposing statistics.

“Pretty close to 90% of the stores are locally and independently owned, and 80% for restaurants. With over 80 places to eat, that is a pretty high percentage of independent restaurants,” she explained.

The customers, including Chee aren’t so easily convince though and are near bitter about the whole ordeal.

“Nothing will be as good as Pharos Pizza.”