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Serving restrictions hurting restaurant and bar owners

The president of the Erie Street BIA predicts many restaurants will shut down because the province's early closing time is resulting in a loss of customers.

Some restaurants say they are losing 20 to 70 per cent of their business

Dale Molnar · CBC News ·
Santos Ortiz is the owner of Mi Casita Restaurant and Bar. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

Local restaurants that depend on a late night bar crowd say they are losing a significant amount of business due to new restrictions imposed by the province. 

For some, they're looking at a 20 to 70 per cent loss in customers. 

"Without alcohol, I don't know if any restaurant could survive at a scale like a fine dining ... on Erie Street. So definitely the alcohol sales is a big part of our life for sure," said Filip Rocca, the owner of Mezzo Ristorante and Lounge on Erie Street and the president of Erie Street Business Improvement Association (BIA).

Rocca estimates his loss in business at 30 per cent, which means DJ's don't get hired and large parties are cancelling reservations.

Filip Rocca is the owner of Mezzo Ristorante and Lounge on Erie Street. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

Among the new restrictions the province introduced two weekends ago, bars, night clubs and restaurants have to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. and close at midnight.

At the Mi Casita Restaurant and Bar on Wyandotte Street East owner Santos Ortiz is considering going back to a take out service with the loss of the late night entertainment crowd.

Diners at the Mi Casita Restaurant and Bar. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

"We're hoping we don't have to go back to just do take-out delivery, but, you know, obviously as a business, we have to take things day-by-day again, depending what the government tells us," said Ortiz.

Business was back to normal for Panache Restaurant on Pitt Street East during the summer with the return of inside dining and the addition of the parklet patio. But the parklet will close Nov. 1 and with the loss of the late night crowd, owner Michael Stojcic isn't sure what to do.

He says they've seen a drop of 60 to 70 per cent in business since the 11 p.m. restriction came into place on Sept. 25.

The Panache Restaurant on Pitt Street East has seen a drop of 60 to 70 per cent in business since new closing restrictions were imposed on Sept. 25. (Dale Molnar/CBC)

"Well, we just keep changing and we keep evolving," said Stojcic. "So this is no different. I guess it's just another thing that we have to overcome."

Meanwhile, the owner of Kurley's AC on Erie Street believes he can still survive without a crowd past midnight.

"I'd rather lose two hours of service than lose the whole shooting match by going into a phase two," Ris Massetti said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dale Molnar

Video Journalist

Dale Molnar is a video journalist at CBC Windsor. He is a graduate of the University of Windsor and has worked in television, radio and print. He has received a number of awards including an RTDNA regional TV news award and a New York Festivals honourable mention.

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