Another longtime restaurant is closing its doors, this time in Sidney.
Boondocks Bar and Grill owner Andrew Hansen this week announced the closure of the restaurant after its purchase three years ago.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of great people in Sidney, and great support during the toughest of times,B次元官网网址� he wrote on Facebook. B次元官网网址�(I) just wish we could have made a bigger difference in the community.B次元官网网址�
The business has operated in Sidney for 35 years and its closure comes just days after the closure of Central SaanichB次元官网网址檚 SassyB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant, which had operated for 43 years.
Hansen later told Black Press Media in a message over social media that the business did its best under very hard circumstances. B次元官网网址淚t was a good run, but the (business) just couldnB次元官网网址檛 sustain itself with trying to catch up from COVID-19 and much higher costs afterward. Staff shortage also (was) a main factor as training costs money and the staff you do hire right now are very green or have not ever worked in the hospitality industry.B次元官网网址�
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Hansen, who has listed the business for sale, said he is not 100 per cent sure what will happen next for the restaurant or the building on Fifth Street. Ultimately, he would like to see another hospitality establishment in the location.
Hansen said the closure affected about 15 staff. As for his own future, Hansen said he plans to stay in the community, while working as a heavy-duty mechanic. He had retired from that profession after 25 years when he purchased the business from longtime owners Jenn and Sean McNeill in 2019, two years after the business moved to its Fifth Street location from a historic building on First Street before its tear-down in 2017. The couple had owned the restaurant for 32 years.
Hansen eventually returned to his old profession to help subsidize the business. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to stay turning wrenches now to try and recover financially from the last three years,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think people realize just how much the hospitality industry was affected during all of this.B次元官网网址�
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Hansen is grateful for all those who supported him. B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of support during and after COVID-19 and thatB次元官网网址檚 what hurts the most.B次元官网网址�
He sounded especially proud about the businessB次元官网网址檚 focus on live music of all genres when other businesses were shying away from booking such entertainment. B次元官网网址淣ow there are so many businesses having live music in Sidney,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淢y hope is this continues both for the musicians and for the residents of Sidney. I would absolutely love to see the (municipality) bring the (Thursday Street Market) back to the streets and have music playing again this year.B次元官网网址�
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