STOCKING THE STORE
Living Sky Cafe moves cautiously into space left by exit of Extra Foods in 2004
Living Sky Cafe co-owners Jenna Dube and Taylor Morrison fill refrigerator shelves with food for sale. They decided to add a mini grocery store and small market to their business to meet the demand from their customers who live downtown.
The restaurant industry in Saskatoon and elsewhere has been dogged by anxiety and pessimism during the COVID -19 pandemic, but the owners of Living Sky Cafe exude a different vibe.
While many restaurant owners wonder if they can survive the shutdown and people’s lingering reticence to gather in groups indoors, Taylor Morrison and Jenna Dube are reopening and starting a new business.
Living Sky Cafe reopened Wednesday on Third Avenue in downtown Saskatoon with an intriguing new addition to its 2,300-square-foot location — a small market and mini-grocery.
“We like to say that we’re cautiously excited,” Dube said in an interview. “We’ve missed having people in our space. We’ve missed seeing all of our regular customers.”
The family-run business aims to fill a niche downtown, which has been without a full-service grocery store since the Extra Foods on Third Avenue closed in 2004.
Living Sky Cafe closed and laid off its 10 staff in March as
COVID -19 cases rose in Saskatchewan and businesses were forced to shutter. But Dube, Morrison and Morrison’s family kept the business going by preparing ready-tocook meals and delivering about 100 a week.
As a result, Living Sky Cafe does not face the huge restarting costs that hinder many restaurants, such as the purchase of new food supplies.
During the shutdown, Morrison and Dube also spent four weeks renovating the space to accommodate the market and grocery. They’re starting small with a few items in a large fridge, some items on shelves and bread made on-site by Morrison.
“We didn’t want to go too big and then find that it wasn’t working,”
Dube said. “I do think that there is a niche for it.”
Morrison and Dube will rehire staff and welcome back diners for breakfast and lunch.
Between the public dining space and a private space, the restaurant can seat 75. Morrison and Dube estimate that with new reopening restrictions requiring two metres of distance and half capacity, seating will be limited to about 30.
Coun. Cynthia Block, who represents the downtown and has stressed the need for a grocery store, encouraged residents and downtown workers to check out the new initiative.
“At least it’s a start,” she said in a text message. “I’m excited that Living Sky Cafe is stepping up to fill this gap, and I wish them every success.”
Morrison and Dube marked two years of operation downtown just as the pandemic restrictions hit. Previously, Living Sky Cafe was located in the former Mendel Art Gallery building.