Despite additional restrictions for restaurants, many owners are making ends meet.

“It doesn’t affect us too much,” says Robert Manchulenko, Chief Officer of Hospitality and Support Services at Hespeler’s Cookhouse and Tavern. “What’s going into place today, we had already implemented back in August.”

restaurant and event revenues utilized toward assisted living, supportive care, and personal care homes within the same building.

“The revenue that comes in through Hespeler’s and our events department, that goes back into seniors housing and keeping the rates affordable for everyone,” informs Manchulenko. “Without that revenue, we’re going to face some stark realities in the future about what we can and can’t do over time.”

Manchulenko says, with the loss of some events and revenue at the restaurant, they have already decided not to move forward on some projects this year.

“With the restaurant, if we’re forced to close again, then we’ll probably have to look at laying off some people,” he shares, “but how that impact would look on seniors housing, that we would have to determine at the time when it comes.”

Meanwhile, the owner of Thai on 59 in Ile Des Chenes, Peter Hounphan, says his business has been doing just fine.

“We decided to just leave it as take-out only”, he shares, “because even when we had the previous restrictions, we could only have like 10 or 12 people inside.”