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Closed February 28: End of East Side Mario

Closed February 28: End of East Side Mario

After nearly 30 years, the East Side Mario Restaurant, located in the Fleur de Lys Shopping Center, will close in February.

In recent weeks, the department has sent a notification of mass dismissals to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity.

About fifteen workers will lose their jobs on February 28.

Until that date, the brand will continue to serve its customers with fast food and delivery (DoorDash, Uber and SkipTheDishes), hoping to get the go-ahead from the government to reopen its dining room.

According to the employee who preferred to keep his name silent, the restaurant had about forty employees before the pandemic. However, this number has decreased since March 2020 due to health measures and restrictions.

By accessing Le Journal, co-owner Alain Simard preferred to limit his comments because he had signed a confidentiality clause with the owners of Vanier shopping center, the Trudel Alliance group.

The businessman confirmed our information regarding the closure of his restaurant, which welcomed its first customers in October 1993. He also confirmed that it is not bankrupt.

“We’re not really reopening,” the franchisor said, acknowledging that the restaurant sector, today, is even more challenging due to the effects of the pandemic and workforce recruitment challenges.

The only one in the area

This is the only East Side Mario establishment, owned by the Ontario chain Recipe Unlimited, formerly known as Cara, in the Quebec City area.

According to various sources, due to the planned demolition work in the coming months to redevelop the Fleur de Lys shopping center site, East Side Mario’s Restaurant has been forced to relocate to continue its activities.

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In 2015, when the Videotron Center opened, Mr. Simard and his partner pumped $500,000 to renovate the 292-seat restaurant.

Between June and December 2021, the establishment set dining room hours from Wednesday to Sunday. Management is currently focusing on delivery and pickup to sell its inventory, a service that is offered seven days a week.

The Trudel Alliance group preferred not to comment.