Fonthill merchants help staff chow down to aid restaurants
Pair challenging other business owners to join the cause
Two Fonthill business owners have found a way to help Niagara’s struggling restaurants while keeping their own employees well fed.
And they’ve put out a challenge to other local businesses to do the same.
When staff at B4 Networks computer consultants eat out or order takeout from a local restaurant, company owners Amanda and Bryan Lachapelle will reimburse them for 50 per cent of the cost, up to $50.
They’re not doing it with cash, but with gift cards employees can use the next time they frequent another local restaurant.
The Lachapelles are doing it out of concern for the financial devastation Niagara’s restaurant owners face.
“Anything to support local businesses,” said Amanda. “We service businesses, we know how hard it has been for people.
“I’d love it if other people would join us … anybody who can, let’s do what we can to make sure our local businesses don’t disappear.”
As Niagara’s COVID-19 case count continues to rise, restaurant owners fear restrictions on indoor gatherings will force them into further layoffs or possibly send them out of business.
Due to rules imposed by Niagara Region public health and the provincial government, Niagara restaurants are limited to 50 people indoors at a time and only four people per table, who must be from the same household or an important social contact.
The Lachapelles feel that puts too much burden on restaurant owners while more should be done to crack down on people who violate public health laws and spread the virus.
The gift card plan will be a cost to the couple, who employ 20 people at their Highway 20 business, but they’re OK with that.
Staff are supportive — “they like free food,” Amanda said with a laugh — and they agree with the purpose.
“A lot of them feel the same as we do,” she said.
“We go to a lot of local places for lunch. I think it’s one of those things where you feel a little guilty about being open and being able to earn a living when you know so many people are hurting.
“So they were all excited to be able to do something to help out.”
The Lachapelles’ plan joins several other initiatives taken to promote restaurants and help them make it through the pandemic.
The Facebook page Restaurants of Niagara, formed earlier this year, has more than 21,000 followers and the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce is building a roster of restaurants and their menus on its website.
In August, both the south Niagara chambers and Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce signed onto the national Our Restaurants campaign.
It was designed to urge people to support their local restaurants after a survey that showed half of Canada’s restaurants were in danger of going out of business before the end of the year.