But there was the cost factor, particularly in pandemic times.
“I don’t think most people have any idea the kinds of costs that are involved in sustaining these kinds of businesses,” McGown noted.
Rather costly was keeping their trusty 42-year-old Grumman truck road-worthy to pass annual permit inspections.
“With just its yearly maintenance plus the skilled labour and the rising cost of food, it becomes an untenable situation, especially when you can’t do volume,” McGown said.
And then there’s the rent factor. They had recently signed a 10-year lease.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t pay the rent we had agreed to, because our business model had changed entirely. We tried to work out a Hail Mary scenario with our landlord, but couldn’t come to an agreement. Had we done so, we might have been able to continue. I don’t wish to vilify the landlords, either, as I assume they are in as much trouble as many small businesses.”
Source: – Montreal Gazette
