Page 8 - December 21 2020
P. 8
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
Includes process colour pages 1,4,5,7,10,11,14,15,18,20,21,24
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 8 MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2020 MONDAY JUNE 29, 2020 PAGE 15
Mandatory sit-down service closures weigh
heavily on local restaurants and lounges
by Jordan Rae
As of December 14, all restaurants, pubs, and many
other types of businesses in the province have had to
close their doors to in-house sit-down service as part
of the latest mandatory measures released by the
Alberta government in response to the rising case
numbers of Covid-19.
Local small businesses, restaurants, and pubs in the
town of Edson have been hit hard by the minimum
four-week closure imposed by the province.
Shannon Johnson-Bevan, part-Owner and General
Manager of The Galloway Lounge, had one word to
describe what she's feeling for her business and her
staff through all of this: "Heartbreaking."
The Galloway Lounge collaborates with the Fresh
Vine Eatery and Catering to feed her pub-goers, so the
Lounge's revenue has dropped to nothing while they
remain closed. "With the Fresh Vine just opening,
they've lost all of their banquet season, they've lost all
their Christmas parties," Johnson-Bevan said. "They
can still do room service, and they can do takeout and
things like that, but absolutely that affects the bottom
line."
Johnson-Bevan was forced to lay off all her staff, Event Reminder
which has weighed heavily on her. "It's like laying off
your family," she said, noting that the financial help
from the government "is a small percentage" In what would be a typical busy day, the empty parking lot outside of The Galloway Lounge reveals the harsh May 9: For mental health week, join
compared to what her staff will lose. reality faced by many local restaurants during the provincial Covid-19 shutdown. photo Jordan Rae the Town of Edson for Darkness to
Typically, Galloway's closes between December 24-
26, and December 31 to January 1, but normally Light – Mental Health Awareness. Join
would remain open for all other days throughout the Like all Albertans, Byer had found out a day earlier Byers has had to lay off four people from his the community and place luminaries or
holiday season, which is always a busy time for them. that an announcement of more restrictions was kitchen staff and 13 from front-of-house. "A lot of my a simple candle outside your home to
"That last weekend before Christmas is a busy one, coming. "Luckily, this time, we had warning about the front-of-house staff is part-time, but there are some u n i t e f o r a l i g h t a t d a w n
and this year it's worse because Edson is full of closure," he said. "It was not like the first time, where that are full-time as well that were laid off," he said.
workers," said Johnson-Bevan. "We have a pipeline we were told we were shutting down tomorrow, and "It is so hard on me as an owner to have to tell my (approximately 5:10 am).
going through here and the hotel is full, and we can't we were stuck with a lot of extra product. In beer staff that they are done working right before
offer them anything." alone, losses will likely be a couple of thousand in Christmas."
Johnson-Bevan shared her frustrations around the write-offs." "The government support programs will offer some
fact that malls in the city can stay open while small To help manage the restaurant's waste with the help to them financially," said Byers. "Mentally
businesses suffer. "We followed all the guidelines, we closure, Byers immediately placed draft beer on sale though, not coming in to work and having that
purchased all the plexi-glass and the sanitizers, and to try and clear it out. "With 16 taps, coupled with us physical interaction with other staff and guests, takes
followed the distancing, and we get closed anyways," already slowing in sales, we were not able to get rid a toll."
she said. "Small business people don't have a way to of all of it," he said. Byers is hopeful that OJ's will be able to reopen for
defend themselves against this." Foodwise, OJ's has moved to a reduced menu for sit-down service after the four weeks is up. "For the
Though weary, Johnson-Bevan is hopeful they'll takeout and delivery, and they tried to run down industry, I hope that we are able to see guests come
still be able to reopen after the 4-week-long products in anticipation of the limited menu. Still, back through our doors, and that take-out and delivery
mandatory closure is up. Byers anticipates about $500 to $1,000 in write-offs isn't a new normal," he said.
Chris Byer, General Manager of Original Joe's for food. Byers expressed gratitude to Edsonites for their
(OJ's) in Edson, says he was preparing for a shut- Like Bevan-Johnson, Byers says their bottom line continued support during these challenging times, a
down by reducing ordering amounts and par levels as will also be greatly affected this holiday season. "We sentiment echoed by many local businesses. Byers
soon as he heard about the November 24 restrictions. normally have Christmas parties booked every also said, "On behalf of myself and the staff, we
"The timing of the shutdown announcement was a weekend from late November to early January," he would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday
surprise though, it came on fast," he said. said. "Plus, the normal friends going out for season! Merry Christmas!"
Christmas drinks."
Jacey Kemp-Cox receives a donation of $1000 for the Edson Food Bank from
ClearStream Energy Services. Pictured left to right are Edson Mayor Kevin
Zahara, Brad Pepper Site Superintendent with Clearstream Energy Services, A stack of OSB donated by the Weyerhauser Mill in Edson for the Homeless
ShelterPods Pilot Project at the Recycle Depot.
and Jacey Kemp-Cox with the Edson Foodbank. photo Jordan Rae
Includes process colour pages 1,4,5,7,10,11,14,15,18,20,21,24
THE WEEKLY ANCHOR
PAGE 8 MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2020 MONDAY JUNE 29, 2020 PAGE 15
Mandatory sit-down service closures weigh
heavily on local restaurants and lounges
by Jordan Rae
As of December 14, all restaurants, pubs, and many
other types of businesses in the province have had to
close their doors to in-house sit-down service as part
of the latest mandatory measures released by the
Alberta government in response to the rising case
numbers of Covid-19.
Local small businesses, restaurants, and pubs in the
town of Edson have been hit hard by the minimum
four-week closure imposed by the province.
Shannon Johnson-Bevan, part-Owner and General
Manager of The Galloway Lounge, had one word to
describe what she's feeling for her business and her
staff through all of this: "Heartbreaking."
The Galloway Lounge collaborates with the Fresh
Vine Eatery and Catering to feed her pub-goers, so the
Lounge's revenue has dropped to nothing while they
remain closed. "With the Fresh Vine just opening,
they've lost all of their banquet season, they've lost all
their Christmas parties," Johnson-Bevan said. "They
can still do room service, and they can do takeout and
things like that, but absolutely that affects the bottom
line."
Johnson-Bevan was forced to lay off all her staff, Event Reminder
which has weighed heavily on her. "It's like laying off
your family," she said, noting that the financial help
from the government "is a small percentage" In what would be a typical busy day, the empty parking lot outside of The Galloway Lounge reveals the harsh May 9: For mental health week, join
compared to what her staff will lose. reality faced by many local restaurants during the provincial Covid-19 shutdown. photo Jordan Rae the Town of Edson for Darkness to
Typically, Galloway's closes between December 24-
26, and December 31 to January 1, but normally Light – Mental Health Awareness. Join
would remain open for all other days throughout the Like all Albertans, Byer had found out a day earlier Byers has had to lay off four people from his the community and place luminaries or
holiday season, which is always a busy time for them. that an announcement of more restrictions was kitchen staff and 13 from front-of-house. "A lot of my a simple candle outside your home to
"That last weekend before Christmas is a busy one, coming. "Luckily, this time, we had warning about the front-of-house staff is part-time, but there are some u n i t e f o r a l i g h t a t d a w n
and this year it's worse because Edson is full of closure," he said. "It was not like the first time, where that are full-time as well that were laid off," he said.
workers," said Johnson-Bevan. "We have a pipeline we were told we were shutting down tomorrow, and "It is so hard on me as an owner to have to tell my (approximately 5:10 am).
going through here and the hotel is full, and we can't we were stuck with a lot of extra product. In beer staff that they are done working right before
offer them anything." alone, losses will likely be a couple of thousand in Christmas."
Johnson-Bevan shared her frustrations around the write-offs." "The government support programs will offer some
fact that malls in the city can stay open while small To help manage the restaurant's waste with the help to them financially," said Byers. "Mentally
businesses suffer. "We followed all the guidelines, we closure, Byers immediately placed draft beer on sale though, not coming in to work and having that
purchased all the plexi-glass and the sanitizers, and to try and clear it out. "With 16 taps, coupled with us physical interaction with other staff and guests, takes
followed the distancing, and we get closed anyways," already slowing in sales, we were not able to get rid a toll."
she said. "Small business people don't have a way to of all of it," he said. Byers is hopeful that OJ's will be able to reopen for
defend themselves against this." Foodwise, OJ's has moved to a reduced menu for sit-down service after the four weeks is up. "For the
Though weary, Johnson-Bevan is hopeful they'll takeout and delivery, and they tried to run down industry, I hope that we are able to see guests come
still be able to reopen after the 4-week-long products in anticipation of the limited menu. Still, back through our doors, and that take-out and delivery
mandatory closure is up. Byers anticipates about $500 to $1,000 in write-offs isn't a new normal," he said.
Chris Byer, General Manager of Original Joe's for food. Byers expressed gratitude to Edsonites for their
(OJ's) in Edson, says he was preparing for a shut- Like Bevan-Johnson, Byers says their bottom line continued support during these challenging times, a
down by reducing ordering amounts and par levels as will also be greatly affected this holiday season. "We sentiment echoed by many local businesses. Byers
soon as he heard about the November 24 restrictions. normally have Christmas parties booked every also said, "On behalf of myself and the staff, we
"The timing of the shutdown announcement was a weekend from late November to early January," he would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday
surprise though, it came on fast," he said. said. "Plus, the normal friends going out for season! Merry Christmas!"
Christmas drinks."
Jacey Kemp-Cox receives a donation of $1000 for the Edson Food Bank from
ClearStream Energy Services. Pictured left to right are Edson Mayor Kevin
Zahara, Brad Pepper Site Superintendent with Clearstream Energy Services, A stack of OSB donated by the Weyerhauser Mill in Edson for the Homeless
ShelterPods Pilot Project at the Recycle Depot.
and Jacey Kemp-Cox with the Edson Foodbank. photo Jordan Rae
