Water Street delay saves business from disaster

Wednesday was opening day for Fog Off Clothing Co.in downtown St. John's and owner Tim Hennebury-Fudge is grateful for the city's recent decision to delay its Water Street reconstruction project.

• Water Street big dig won't begin until 2017

Hennebury-Fudgetold CBC that theproject would have beendisastrousfor his new business.

"I was a bit stressed out to be honest as every other business owner kind of is here," saidHennebury-Fudge.

"It's already an issue down here to park, it's crazy actually and how many people would want to come down with construction going on."

Hennebury-Fudgesigned a lease for his Water Street location in August, months after the City of St. John's had announced theirthree-year project to rip up and replace the water and sewer systems on the street.

He added that his landlord never told him but he found out three weeks after his lease wassigned.

"I felt a bit ripped off that Iwasn't informed by my landlord, who not forced me, but wanted me to sign a three year lease," saidHennebury-Fudge.

Hennebury-Fudgesaid his 'Fog Off' brand is relatively new but its association with mental health foundations has played a part in its popularity. The Water Street store is his third location to open this year.

The city's decision to postpone the work until 2017 will give his business at least one year to establish itself.

It may be another two or three years before the construction would shut down the street outside his store andHennebury-Fudgesays he can live with that.

"The delay until 2017 is kind of promising," saidHennebury-Fudge."I guess we're just going tohave to take it as it comes."