Boyle restaurant a casualty of the pandemic

BOYLE – The sign on the window of the Whistle Stop Café in Boyle says it is closed until further notice which seems hopeful it will reopen, but that is not the case. 

After what owner Sharon Lakatos called a “heart wrenching decision” she and husband George have chosen to close the doors permanently after regulations put in place surrounding COVID-19 created a dramatic drop in revenue. 

“We noticed three weeks ago (after) we did a great big grocery shop and then the following day – bang – it just slowed right down,” Lakatos explained. “And then I had to let go of my staff, all four of them, then my husband and I ran it for two weeks by ourselves (but) it just was getting slower.” 

The duo tried to offer delivery but it wasn’t easy to keep up with just the two of them and with fewer people coming to the door for pick-up the final decision had to be made. 

“I couldn't even afford to pay the power bill over there let alone the rent or anything here (at home) to keep it going,” she said. “So, my husband and I just sat down and we had to do this heartbreaking decision."

The Whistle Stop Café opened almost three years ago and quickly became a popular stop for both locals and summer visitors both due to its easy access and rustic, home-style décor. 

“We still have restaurants in town but the Whistle Stop was a little bit of a different twist on things with her crafts and being just a small, quaint little place,” said Village of Boyle mayor Colin Derko. “They did a really good job there. It was just one of those places that was well on its way to be a staple.” 

Lakatos said they applied for some of the relief measures, but because of minimums set in place she doesn’t think they will qualify. She also wasn’t sure it was worth it since most of the money comes in the form of loans and she doesn’t want more debt on top of the debt they have already incurred. 

“We tried everything like that but there's no guarantees, and now they're saying at least four to six months before anything clears up,” she said. “So, I can't sit and wait and I don't want to get in debt because I paid for this restaurant already and I don't want to get in debt again.” 

She’s not bitter about losing the restaurant that has been her focus for the past few years though, even offering to help anyone who took over the space wanting to start their own restaurant. 

“We gave it our best shot, you know,” she said. “I know there's a lot of disappointed people. If somebody ever wanted to reopen, I will surely help them do that.” 

In the meantime, she is looking for other work and considering selling baked goods at local farmers’ markets once they reopen. 

“I think it's a huge impact in Boyle because in a small town that has very few businesses to begin with – one restaurant shuts down in Edmonton and they don't really notice it – but one restaurant shuts down in Boyle and it's a big deal,” Derko said, adding, “From my experiences I think they probably did the right thing by not trying to hang on.” 

Lakatos and her husband have resigned themselves to the closure and encourage other small restaurants to try to keep going. 

“It was with a heavy heart and lots of tears shed over this for the last two three weeks; I said my goodbyes for the last time the other day,” she said. "(It’s time to) close the door and time to open up a new chapter in my life. I really recommend the other restaurants to keep going for as long as they can, do what you have to do to survive.” 

Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
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