Labour shortage sinks St. Boniface eatery Shuttered Promenade Cafe for sale: ‘We just couldn’t find enough line cooks and servers’ By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Monday, Aug. 29, 2022

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This article was published 28/08/2022 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For sale: Promenade Cafe and Wine — the building, the equipment, the tables and chairs.

Missing are the chefs, the dishwashers and the servers. The lack of staff extends from the French eatery’s final days — and it’s the reason for shuttering, according to the former owner.

“We just didn’t foresee such a labour shortage in our industry,” said Shawn Brandson, who co-owned Promenade Cafe for 11 years with his wife Connie.

The restaurant was chronically understaffed since pandemic-era public health restrictions lifted, Brandson said.

“We wanted to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said, adding Promenade Cafe stayed closed for breakfast and lunch on weekdays.

“We just couldn’t find enough line cooks and servers.”

“It’s sad that (Promenade Cafe) had to end, but I’m proud of all the people that were working with us.” – Shawn Brandson

At the time of closure — more than two months ago — the business needed around 16 people, Brandson said.

He kept staff on during the pandemic; Promenade Cafe had shifted to home delivery and curbside pickup. Still, many took jobs in other industries.

Since reopening, Brandson has searched for staff in Manitoba and abroad. He didn’t plan on closing — he’d recently extended his patio licence another 70 seats.

“Finally we had a weekend service,” Brandson said.

The quality of service declined due to a lack of staff and new employees not showing up or quitting, he said.

Brandson said he offered Promenade Cafe’s workers jobs at Fort Gibraltar, where he leads events and catering.

“It’s sad that (Promenade Cafe) had to end, but I’m proud of all the people that were working with us,” Brandson said.

Restaurants seem to be fighting for the same candidates, according to Shaun Jeffrey, the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association’s executive director.

“We call it the BBD — the bigger, better deal,” Jeffrey said. “(Staff are) looking for that next opportunity, that next business that will provide them something they weren’t getting before.”

Eateries are increasing their discounts on meals, offering free meals if they hadn’t before and otherwise “looking outside the box” to attract workers, Jeffrey said.

A recent Leopold’s Tavern job posting advertised discounts on GoodLife Fitness memberships and Shaw services.

“There’s only so much that an operator can pay,” Jeffrey said. “They’re doing what they can to try to make their positions as attractive as possible, but you run out of money eventually.”

Restaurants have reduced their hours to cope with the lack of staff. Many are consolidating positions and offering more full-time employment, Jeffrey said.

“It’s helping, but… we really do need some of those part-time staff, and we’re starting to see a very big decline in that, especially going into the school season,” Jeffrey said.

Staffing is crucial as the holidays approach, he noted. Revenue from holiday parties supports many restaurants through a slow January and February.

“The good thing is now… it looks very stable moving forward, and predictable,” Jeffrey said. “We finally have a longer lead up time to provide that staff.”

“The good thing is now… it looks very stable moving forward, and predictable… We finally have a longer lead up time to provide that staff.” – Shaun Jeffrey

There’s never been a better time to aim for management positions in restaurants, Jeffrey said.

Manitoba’s accommodation and food sector had 41,600 workers in July — up 14.9 per cent year over year, according to Statistics Canada data.

The sector’s employment had dipped to 25,400 in April of 2020, a 40.7 per cent drop from the previous year.

Jeffrey didn’t think Manitoba’s upcoming minimum wage increase would damper openings in the restaurant industry, but he didn’t yet have data from polled restaurants on the topic.

Pamela Kullman noticed the serving staff at Promenade Cafe getting younger during her weekly brunch visits.

“They were still learning, still training,” she said.

Even so, she wants the café back.

“I felt like I was in Paris, almost, or somewhere in Quebec City,” Kullman said. “A lot of restaurants have a lot of cookie cutter kind of recipes… (Promenade Cafe) always had something different.”

Gone is the meringue floating island dessert that satisfied Kullman’s sweet tooth. Since she has many allergies, she’s usually confined to options of fruit or ice cream, she said.

Kullman and her family don’t go out for brunch weekly anymore — nothing compares to Promenade, she said.

However, she might consider it if another restaurant enters 130 Provencher Blvd. and offers unique and allergy friendly dishes.

“We really feel strongly that there needs to be a restaurant like (Promenade Cafe) in St. Boniface,” Brandson said. “It’s important to the community to have it as a restaurant.”

The facility is listed at $305,000. Buyers can use Promenade Cafe’s name or bring in their own business, Brandson said.

He’s busy with Fort Gibraltar — weddings and festivals are in full swing — but he said he’s not ruling out launching a new restaurant in the future.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com