Businesses could be hurt by remote classes at the U of S

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is planning to keep classes online for the fall semester, which could hurt some businesses in the area.

Several restaurants, a bank, a technology store and a bookstore are located across from the school between Cumberland Avenue and Bottomley Avenue.

Wow Pizza is one of those establishments. Sanjay Joshi, the owner and CEO, has already seen a major hit to the bottom line.

He has mostly seen a hit to sales from walk-in customers. He has been able to make up for that through delivery and takeout, but has had to spend more on marketing and advertising.

“Walk-in sales have reduced by almost 40 per cent, because students make up 40 per cent of those sales,” he told 650 CKOM.

Without a return to in-person classes at the U of S, he doubts he’d be able to make a profit.

“We will not make any money,” he said. “We will survive.”

He has even had to cancel plans to open up new locations.

“I hope that after the survival phase is over, we start making some growth and making some money,” Joshi said.