Labour shortage sinks St. Boniface eatery Shuttered Promenade Cafe for sale: ‘We just couldn’t find enough line cooks and servers’
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$19 $0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then billed as $19 every four weeks (new subscribers and qualified returning subscribers only). Cancel anytime.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2022 (752 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.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Shawn Brandson, owner of Promenade Cafe and Wine, had to shutter his restaurant due to a lack of staff.
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.
Sixth Leopold’s Tavern to open in Transcona
Leopold’s Tavern is en route to opening a sixth location in Winnipeg — its third this year.
The chain, which brands its restaurants as community pubs, will open in Park City Commons off Plessis Road.
Leopold’s Tavern is en route to opening a sixth location in Winnipeg — its third this year.
The chain, which brands its restaurants as community pubs, will open in Park City Commons off Plessis Road.
“It’s just great to be embraced by a city like this,” said Kurtis Tokarchuk, Leopold’s Tavern’s city manager in Winnipeg.
The site will open near the end of this year or beginning of next, depending on construction, Tokarchuk said.
Locations in Osborne Village and off Henderson Highway opened earlier in 2022. The company is launching its 21st restaurant in Calgary in a couple months.
“For a little business from Regina, Saskatchewan to get that big over the course of… nine years is pretty crazy,” Tokarchuk said.
He attributes the success to customers liking Leopold’s Tavern’s atmosphere. Partnerships with local breweries and non-alcoholic drink producers helps, he said.
The company plans to hire between 40 and 50 people for the Transcona restaurant.
“We’ve generally been pretty lucky with finding staff,” Tokarchuk said, noting Leopold’s Taverns may be closer to workers’ homes than other restaurants.
Roughly 200 Manitobans now work for the chain, he said.
“Generally, we’ve had very, very good staff retention,” Tokarchuk said. “We encourage them to be themselves.”
A recent posting for Henderson Highway serving and shift supervisor positions highlighted staff perks, including discounts on GoodLife Fitness memberships and Shaw services.
Employees who referred new staff could get up to $500 cash. Pay started at minimum wage plus tips, the posting read.
“They’re keeping (Leopold’s Taverns) at a size level where you can keep them viable, but you’re not having these big massive locations that require a ton of staff,” Shaun Jeffrey, CEO of the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said earlier this month.
The Transcona space will have around 100 seats and a patio.
The franchise is going where the foot traffic is, Jeffrey said. They have spots on Academy Road, and in Bridgwater and South Osborne.
“They’re really looking at those areas of the city that are needing that business,” Jeffrey said, adding the restaurants are located in areas with “thriving foodie populations”.
“They really have knocked it out of the park with their ability to be successful during such a tough time,” he said.
– Gabrielle Piché
“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.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Leopold’s Tavern in South Osborne in Winnipeg.
“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.
ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Promenade Cafe and Wine has closed down after 11 years of service in Winnipeg.
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
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Leopold’s Tavern, the south Osborne location shown, will open its sixth location in Winnipeg later this year in the Park City Commons off Plessis Road.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Leopold’s Tavern in South Osborne in Winnipeg.
Gabrielle Piché
Reporter
Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and learning. She graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in the spring of 2020.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
