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The last hamburger plate was to be served Monday night at Mellos diner, which has operated beneath its iconic neon sign in the ByWard Market for more than 70 years.
The Dalhousie Street restaurant is being forced out because its landlord decided not to renew its lease, and has instead struck a deal to rent the space to a neighbouring restaurateur who is expected to open a new diner in the same location.
A Kickstarter campaign to raise $60,000 to relocate Mellos in the ByWard Market was set to expire at 11 p.m. Monday. Late in the day, that campaign was still less than halfway (46 per cent) towards its goal, and it appeared all but certain that the fundraising campaign will fail.
Credit card pledges made through a Kickstarter campaign are not processed when a campaign falls short of its goal.
It means the fate of the venerable diner is uncertain.
In an email, Mellos’ owner Martin Fremeth said he has scouted out a nearby ByWard Market location and has had discussions with the landlord, whom he described as “quite sympathetic to the whole situation.” Any move, however, would require an injection of capital since new equipment would have to be purchased and installed, he said.
“We have been exploring the possibility of some outside investment and it is looking hopeful but it really hinges on us hitting a certain threshold on our Kickstarter campaign,” said Fremeth, who has owned the business since 2012.
“Not necessarily the $60,000 we were originally looking for, but the level of community support shown online will definitely be something that affects our ability to drum up the funds needed from outside investors to make the move.”
The restaurant was packed with patrons Monday. Ever since Mellos announced that it had to move, Fremeth said, he has been humbled by how much affection people have shown for the place. “Grandparents are bringing their grandchildren here: it’s really something,” he said.
The fate of the iconic Mellos sign is also uncertain. The sign is covered by a heritage designation that applies to the entire ByWard Market district, and any changes made to it — including its removal or relocation — must be approved by city council.
Sally Coutts, co-ordinator of heritage services for the City of Ottawa, said no request has come forward under the Ontario Heritage Act to move the sign. “But our feeling is that it may be appropriate to move it (the sign) if it stays within the ByWard Market,” she said.
The final dinner serving at Mellos came as another popular Ottawa restaurant also closed its doors. The owner of the Raw Sugar Café on Somerset Street announced Monday that she has decided to close down after seven years.
Owner Nadia Kharyati announced the café’s fate on Facebook, saying: “I had sincerely hoped the place would carry on. Circumstances beyond my control, however, have led me to close my doors today. While the time has come for me to move on, know that this was an incredibly difficult decision to make.”
Kharyati could not be reached for further comment.
Raw Sugar offered fair trade organic coffee and tea and desserts that included vegan and gluten-free options, along with Beau’s beer. The café welcomed artists, writers and families, and often hosted community and live music events.
查看原文...
The Dalhousie Street restaurant is being forced out because its landlord decided not to renew its lease, and has instead struck a deal to rent the space to a neighbouring restaurateur who is expected to open a new diner in the same location.
A Kickstarter campaign to raise $60,000 to relocate Mellos in the ByWard Market was set to expire at 11 p.m. Monday. Late in the day, that campaign was still less than halfway (46 per cent) towards its goal, and it appeared all but certain that the fundraising campaign will fail.
Credit card pledges made through a Kickstarter campaign are not processed when a campaign falls short of its goal.
It means the fate of the venerable diner is uncertain.
In an email, Mellos’ owner Martin Fremeth said he has scouted out a nearby ByWard Market location and has had discussions with the landlord, whom he described as “quite sympathetic to the whole situation.” Any move, however, would require an injection of capital since new equipment would have to be purchased and installed, he said.
“We have been exploring the possibility of some outside investment and it is looking hopeful but it really hinges on us hitting a certain threshold on our Kickstarter campaign,” said Fremeth, who has owned the business since 2012.
“Not necessarily the $60,000 we were originally looking for, but the level of community support shown online will definitely be something that affects our ability to drum up the funds needed from outside investors to make the move.”
The restaurant was packed with patrons Monday. Ever since Mellos announced that it had to move, Fremeth said, he has been humbled by how much affection people have shown for the place. “Grandparents are bringing their grandchildren here: it’s really something,” he said.
The fate of the iconic Mellos sign is also uncertain. The sign is covered by a heritage designation that applies to the entire ByWard Market district, and any changes made to it — including its removal or relocation — must be approved by city council.
Sally Coutts, co-ordinator of heritage services for the City of Ottawa, said no request has come forward under the Ontario Heritage Act to move the sign. “But our feeling is that it may be appropriate to move it (the sign) if it stays within the ByWard Market,” she said.
The final dinner serving at Mellos came as another popular Ottawa restaurant also closed its doors. The owner of the Raw Sugar Café on Somerset Street announced Monday that she has decided to close down after seven years.
Owner Nadia Kharyati announced the café’s fate on Facebook, saying: “I had sincerely hoped the place would carry on. Circumstances beyond my control, however, have led me to close my doors today. While the time has come for me to move on, know that this was an incredibly difficult decision to make.”
Kharyati could not be reached for further comment.
Raw Sugar offered fair trade organic coffee and tea and desserts that included vegan and gluten-free options, along with Beau’s beer. The café welcomed artists, writers and families, and often hosted community and live music events.
查看原文...
