Restaurant owners in the Toronto area are still in recovery mode in the aftermath of December's punishing ice storm. Many took a financial hit in the days after the storm because of power outages and frozen pipes. And the reconstruction costs are still adding up.
The Miller Tavern near Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue lost its power for several hours and even saw some of its pipes burst. They had to turn away customers and throw out much of the food in their fridges.
“We’re probably looking at anywhere from $30,000 to $45,000 in lost revenue,” says general manager David Ashby.
Hundreds of other restaurants shared the same fate. The Canadian Restaurant and Food services Association says the storm will undoubtedly eat into the profits of many smaller operations.
“Some people were out almost the entire time... almost a week without power. That's a week without business, that's a week of food,” says the CRFA's James Riley.
Still other restaurants that didn't lose their power or saw it returned quickly say they saw an influx of business because many customers couldn’t cook at home.
Vincent D`Cruz, the owner of the Outrigger Tap & Table Restaurant in The Beach, says they lost their power early in the storm, forcing them to lock their doors. But the lights were back on within days and soon, the restaurant was packed.
“I have not seen the restaurant that full,” he says.” A lineup on a Sunday night, it doesn't happen; it's just not normal for us,” says D'Cruz.
He says the extra money the restaurant took in likely made up for the money they lost when they had to close.
But back at the Miller Tavern, owners still have to find a way to pay for the extensive damage to the floors, walls and carpets that the burst pipes caused.
The CRFA hopes some of these businesses will be able to get some help.
“If there is a conversation about compensation, we’d love to be part of it, because there will be some tight times in some people's businesses,” says Riley.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Colin D’Mello
