DON'YA seeks to contribute to livelier downtown
The people behind DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen are eager to bring vibrancy to downtown's public spaces. "Our entire team is from Europe, where downtowns are vibrant," co-founder Janice Krissa said at a grand reopening ceremony for Little DON'YA on March 18, after the cafe moved into another part of a building at 10405 Jasper Avenue NW. "That energy is something we deeply value and something we want to help bring back to downtown Edmonton, because right now, that vibrancy is missing." Though office workers are starting to return to downtown, weekends remain quiet. "We tried an opening on Saturdays, and our total sales were just $71 in one day," Krissa said. "That is the reality many downtown businesses are facing."
DON'YA, which started as a project to employ Ukrainian newcomers, also rolled out a coffee bike to serve the newly revitalized Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park. It's across the street from the downtown cafe and just a few blocks east of the new O-day'min Park. "When we look outside, we can also see the investments the city is making in supporting our downtown vibrancy," Coun. Anne Stevenson said at the March 18 event. Plans are underway for outdoor fitness classes, markets, and live music with an emphasis on different cultures, Krissa said.
The restaurant's aspirations seem aligned with the city's Downtown Action Plan, which seeks to bring more people to the core through events, beautification of public spaces, and housing incentives. In February, the city put up to $3 million into a fund to help achieve the plan's goals. Applications for the first intake closed on March 23, but the second intake is open from March 24 until April 20, with decisions to be made by May 19.
