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@jkenney I own a small restaurant in Red Deer. I’m sending this in hopes that you’ll take the time to read.
I bought this restaurant last September to follow a dream I’ve had for years. I had been looking to pivot out of the construction business I had for 23 years and wouldn’
I bought this restaurant last September to follow a dream I’ve had for years. I had been looking to pivot out of the construction business I had for 23 years and wouldn’
You know my favourite restaurant came up for sale! It was meant to be! There was some issues with previous management but nothing I couldn’t handle right? I’ve been a business owner basically all my adult life I can fix this place and bring it back to its former glory! No problem
After a couple months you could see it turning around! The staff believed in me and my vision and I believed in their abilities! It was perfect it really was. March 20 we were told to shutdown to take out only. Seeing as we are a steakhouse with finer cuisine, that first week I
Thought this was impossible we are going to fail miserably I wasn’t ready to turn a restaurant that is known for the ambiance and experience and box that up into to-go containers! Besides, what do I know about pivoting in a industry I was so new to? Well you know what? My
Staff responded in a huge way! They absolutely killed it! Couldn’t have been more proud! Anyone we laid off we had coming back within a couple weeks after laying them off. Fast forward to reopening.... so exciting we get to reopen! We are beating the virus this is amazing!!
I build a new patio to accommodate as many as possible while following all regulations, we bring in our new in house protocols to ensure the safety of all patrons and staff. By July we are absolutely doing great! Our staff have been crushing it, following all the protocols put in
Place, we are putting up amazing numbers, we are unstoppable!!! Then September comes and we see rising numbers creeping up a little more everyday. I’m concerned but our premier has announced many times he won’t shut down business and all is good! Ok we’ll go with that. October
Rears it’s ugly head numbers still rising yet you’re still saying you won’t shut down. November comes, numbers getting out of control, starting to notice a trend, we are losing Christmas party’s, large groups are cancelling reservations, I think this isn’t going to be good.
I’m just curious, you say you didn’t shut down our economy earlier to protect workers like the 27,000 service industry workers in Alberta. Did you ever really think about the service and retail industries for that matter? If you did I think even a dumb ex construction guy like
Myself could’ve deducted that a shutdown in October May have ensured that the service and retail industries could enjoy their busiest time of year (by a mile) which would have let us all have a much better chance of survival during this pandemic. But instead you wait until now
So that employers are cut off at the knees and we have to look at lay-offs at Christmas time! Do you have hind sight? I hope you do and are able to see what you’ve caused in these industries. Have you ever had employees that are constantly looking to you for security and
Knowledge in regards to a situation that I have no answers for. Have you ever had to lay off employees at anytime let alone the holidays? I think not. We will survive, barely and no thanks to you but thanks to our amazing customers and staff. I hope during your Christmas break
You think of all the lives you’ve affected, not for the good.
