HORNEPAYNE — Guests at the Hornepayne Community Arena will soon have to satiate their food and drink needs elsewhere.
The Fry Guys, located inside the arena at the canteen, is now set to close at the end of the winter season - at the start of March.
On Jan. 10th, Hornepayne’s town council approved a proposal for early termination of the rental agreement for Fry Guys, submitted by business operator Josh Peever.
The contract originally specified an end date of August 1, 2024.
“With only a one-year contract, we cannot hope to make back what we initially put into this restaurant and we will lose the thousands of dollars we used to start up the canteen in materials. Due to this, I do not believe it is in our best interests to remain open for the entirety of the contract,” Peever wrote in a letter submitted to council.
Peever also mentioned in his letter that between the cost of employee wages, rent, propane, food, and other materials, it has been almost impossible to make the $18,000 he and his business partner need monthly to break even.
On top of all that, there are still startup costs that Peever and his partner have not been able to recoup.
They don’t plan to leave everyone hanging, however.
Fry Guys will still operate between now and when they close in March, but on a reduced schedule.
Coun. Peter Kistemaker understood the rationale behind the proposed closure, but he took issue with the fact that the new reduced hours and premature closure will result in people missing out.
“They’re only going to come during the high times – if that was the case, then we would have never done this in the first place,” Kistemaker said.
Mayor Cheryl Fort said they do work with vendors.
“I think in fairness to the vendor, we do try to work with them and we try to get all of our events covered that are coming up to ensure that they’re covering them. But I do agree with you, Councillor Kistemaker, that in the future we have to make sure that they know that they’re committing to that full time and the full hours,” Fort said.
“I am sad to see this venture not work for them.”
