Update: GuelphToday was notified late Monday night that the meeting was cancelled due to concerns about a large gathering.
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A local restaurateur is hosting a gathering of Guelph restaurant owners Tuesday to share ideas on how to help business and staff during the current COVID-19 crisis.
Court Desautels, CEO of Neighbourhood Group which includes Miijidaa, Borealis, The Wooly pub and Park Grocery, invites all city restaurant owners to come to his restaurant at 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss and share about the situation.
“Just really be able to speak the same language and what ways we’re going to be able to support our staff and be here for the community,” said Desautels.
“Sharing best practices: what are people doing, some of the options, and how we can help support our small suppliers too, that rely on our business.”
Looking after employees is a huge focus, he said.
“That’s the primary thing in the hospitality business. We have to take care of our people in order to take care of the community.”
According to Tripadvisor there are 341 restaurants in Guelph and Desautels said they are already feeling the effects of the crisis.
“We are seeing about a 30 per cent decline in business – so far,” said Desautels Monday morning.
“Oh yeah. You can see it. Business has been fairly steady during the day and early dinner, but then you just see it drop off in the evenings.”
Desautels said one restaurant, Park Grocery, has actually seen an increase in business because it has a focus on pick-up and curbside ordering (staff will bring out the food to your car).
That kind of service is something others need to look at.
At Miijida he said they have been removing tables and reducing seating to make sure there is more distance between customers.
“We’ve reduced our seating by about 50 per cent,” he said of Miijida.
Desautels has reached out to the Downtown Guelph Business Association, the mayor and the city’s tourism department to help spread word of the meeting.
He said there’s a real concern that restaurants will be asked to shut down it’s table service soon, switching to delivery, pick-up and curbside service only.
“I think that’s going to happen,” Desautels said.
