The end of October is usually marked by the changing of the leaves and the last of the cool, sunny days before the November deluge begins.
This year, it will also be marked by the closing of a West End institution. , a popular eatery located on Davie Street off Thurlow, in the heart of Davie Village, is celebrating its 25th anniversary later this month. But, in a recent , owners Bobbie Lim and Marc Arendt announced that the restaurant would be closing permanently at the end of October. That date has since been brought even further forward to Oct. 22.
The Dish, which opened in 1992, has been more than just a casual place to grab a bite. The owners share that it is the West End's oldest-operating LGBTQ restaurant, and a stalwart supporter of the community.
Lim and Arendt took over the business from the original owner 18 months ago. They invested heavily in new equipment and renovations. Recipes were updated, and vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free menus were introduced. Everything was made fresh. The all-day breakfast menu was very popular. Staff, many of whom have been with the restaurant since it opened, were given promotions, pay raises and bonuses. Customers returned positive feedback.
And yet, it wasn’t enough. Speaking with Arendt over the phone, he brought up several reasons that together have led to the decision to close.
“First, and most important, housing affordability made costs go up,” he explains. “We were already paying our staff well above minimum wage, but we had to pay them even more so that they could afford to live here. Affordability and not getting a living wage also affects our customers. They spend so much just to survive that they can’t go out as much. Meanwhile, our costs went up, so we had to raise our prices, which also affects sales. As well, the weather was a major factor this past year. Last winter was bad for everyone, as people really tried not to go out. And finally, grocery and supply costs have gone up a lot.”
Arendt gave what he called an extreme example: “Romaine lettuce used to be $27 per case, and it’s now $140 per case.” It may be an extreme example, but it’s not an isolated one.
Surprisingly, rent and property tax wasn’t an issue. “We have a good landlord who’s been keeping our rent relatively stable, with no large increases, so it’s been manageable,” explains Arendt.
Arendt has been dealing with some family sorrow as well. His mother passed away two weeks ago and his father is currently hospitalized. “It’s been hard, as we haven’t been able to hold the funeral yet, with my father in the hospital,” says Arendt.
“We bought [The Dish] because we felt it was an important local institution and we thought we could turn it around. We got a lot of great reviews, but we can’t live off reviews. We’re a small family business. We poured all our savings into this, over $100,000, and we’re likely coming out of with a lot of debt. So, at this point, we’re just hoping to go out with a bang and see all our past customers come in, and have a chance to say goodbye. Hopefully, we’ll be able to almost break even by the time we close.”
If you’d like to stop by before last service, The Dish is open daily, weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.-4p.m. It was originally planned to stay open until Oct. 31, which is the anniversary of the opening day, and Arendt and his husband’s wedding anniversary. Last orders will now be served Oct. 22.
• This article has been updated since originally published.Â
