The City of Mississauga is implementing new restrictions on restaurants at Ridgeway Plaza following numerous complaints regarding noise, congestion, and security issues. During a city council meeting on Wednesday, a major bylaw amendment was approved, aimed at reducing the number of restaurants operating in the plaza by 15 percent.
Under the newly enacted regulations, existing restaurants will still be allowed to operate; however, they will not have the option to expand their current spaces. City officials indicated that the targeted 15 percent reduction in restaurant numbers would largely occur naturally as businesses close over time. Furthermore, a petition opposing these new changes was presented during the same council meeting, highlighting concerns that the restrictions could lead to job losses and decreased revenue for the establishments.
Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney, who represents the area encompassing Ridgeway Plaza, conveyed the city council's intention during a committee meeting earlier this January. He emphasized the necessity of finding a balance that would not adversely impact the established businesses in the plaza. “The goal here was to find a proper balance. We don’t want to hurt the businesses that are currently there,” Mahoney stated.
He further explained that the initiative aims to restore sufficient parking in the area and enhance safety within the plaza. Currently, there are over 100 establishments operating, but it has been argued that the plaza lacks adequate parking to accommodate the resultant traffic adequately. A study commissioned by the City of Mississauga indicated that the shortage of parking spaces has contributed to rising traffic levels, noise disturbances, and safety concerns, particularly during weekends and evenings. According to municipal officials, there have been 112 complaints registered since 2022 regarding these issues.
In 2025, Ridgeway Plaza attracted media attention when the City of Mississauga obtained a temporary injunction aimed at curtailing gatherings on the property, which stemmed from the ongoing complaints. Nevertheless, the latest changes have generated mixed reactions among business owners and operators in the plaza. Manjot Singh, the operator of Brar’s Erin Mills, voiced his frustrations, expressing that the new regulations seemed unjust. “It makes no sense to me at all. Why are we being penalized for it? Matter of fact, it should be the City of Mississauga held accountable,” he told local news.
While Singh stated that he was relieved that Brar's would not be forced to reduce its operations, he argued that the city should have acted earlier, given their prior awareness of the parking shortages and congestion issues that have persisted since the plaza opened. Furthermore, restaurant owners highlighted the financial burden of escalating security costs in the area, claiming that plaza tenants are collectively responsible for nearly $200,000 in bills. “With such shrinking margins, we’re operating at such a thin line. Every dollar matters, and the City shouldn’t just impose these bills onto us,” Singh emphatically remarked.
Although Coun. Mahoney was not available for an interview following the council meeting, he mentioned that he had convened with a business association representing the establishments at Ridgeway Plaza. They discussed potential strategies to address the nuisance issues faced by the plaza without negatively impacting the businesses actively operating there.
