The News contacted some restaurant and food business owners on Monday, in advance of the announcement on closure. The situation was fluid at the time as on Monday morning Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, said that restaurant closures were not being contemplated at this time. He also said that even a restriction to 50% seating capacity, which had been instituted in Quebec over the weekend was not on the cards in Ontario.

By the end of Monday, that had changed, and he said he was encouraging restaurants and bars to think about shutting down. This followed a statement by Prime Minister Trudeau early in the afternoon, at the tail end of a press conference, had been focussed primarily on the borders and restrictions on foreign travel.

Trudeau implored Canadians, whether they are sick or well, to stay home as much as possible and to communicate with each other by phone and email and video chat.

One restaurant, Muddy Waters in Verona, was contemplating putting reserved signs on half the tables in their restaurant after hearing the news on Monday. Business had been dropping off over the last two weeks, after a pretty strong January and February, even before any talk of restrictions. They said that they were expecting, given the pace of announcements by governments over the last few days, that the half capacity measures were not the end of it and they would likely be shut down before too long.

By Tuesday morning, they had been proven correct. At 8:30 the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced that all restaurants in the Province need to suspend sit down service, and can only offer take-out food.

That will mean immediate layoffs in the restaurants. In the case of Muddy Waters, for example, they might keep two people on at a time, a cook and someone on cash, and how viable they will be as a take-out only enterprise is anyone’s guess.

Other businesses were already feelings the effects of the dramatic downturn in the restaurant industry this month in Toronto, Ottawa and Kingston. Seed to Sausage, which producessells to high end restaurants, was in the midst of layoffs as early as Monday morning, as orders had been canceled already.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Plevna Freshmart looked like it might be on its last legs. The attached North of 7 Family Restaurant had closed and the grocery store had become more of a convenience store/gas bar operation.

But on Sept. 1 of last year, Bill James bought it.

A Plevna native, James had run a successful diesel fuel business but had decided the time had come to sell. He had some commitments to diesel business up until the end of January but now he’s fully committed to his new venture.

“I saw it (the restaurant/grocery store) needed some help,” he said. “And I needed something to do.”

Well, he has plenty to do now.

He started by increasing inventory in the grocery and opened the restaurant in mid-December. He estimates he’s at about 25 per cent of where he wants to be with the operation.

“We still have work in the restaurant but we have the bakery up and running,” he said. “We’ll be adding a butcher shop and this will be a fully operational grocery.”

It’s not like James always wanted to have a restaurant or a grocery store, he just saw an opportunity.

“I’ve got six month’s experience,” he joked. “Every day I’m learning.

“But, I’ve worked in customer service my whole life and regardless of what you’re selling or promoting, at the end of the day, your customers are what matters.”

He said he’s just getting through his first year and the new year will begin May 1. He knows it will take time to build the business up to it’s potential.

“This started out as a hamburger stand you know,” he said. “It’ll take a couple of years to get it to where we want it.”

He has no shortage of ideas and plans however.

Like any successful northern rural businessman, he knows he has to make most of his money when the tourists are around.

“Right now, we bake bread twice a week,” he said. “In the summer it will be every day.

“In the summer, people will come in for meat and buy the rest of their groceries too.”

As for the restaurant, they have a varied menu within the family restaurant genre but once they get going he plans dinner specials on weekends and such.

“It’ll be seven days a week in the summer,” he said. “This is not a corner store any more.”

For example, he plans specials during the hockey playoffs this year and then “let ’er happen.”

Right now, the store is open from 8-6 daily and 9-5 on Sunday. The restaurant is open from 9-3 Thursday to Sunday but expect those hours to expand soon, perhaps as early as sometime in March.

But James certainly seems to be enjoying himself with his new venture.

Is there some part he likes the best?

“All of it,” he said.

Christine Lavallee opened Lavallee’s Inverary store last January 1. The store is located in the centre of Inverary in the location of the former Inverary store. It carries what you would expect to find in a convenience store, but over the last year it has also brought in dozens of local products, and has become an enthusiastic supporter of the Infrontenac branding initiative.

“We have found that there is a market for excellent local products, such as the salsa that T&A Condiments make, Hanna meat pies, and other products both from Frontenac County and nearby,” Christine Lavallee said, when interviewed the store last week.

While running the store, she has also noticed there is a market for fresh baking as well as quality take home food. And that is where the idea for a new, complementary business came in.

“We can’t keep up with the demand for baked goods, and I thought if we could have a kitchen to work out of it would be good for us and the community.”

Not one to wait too long for the dust to settle, Lavallee, who ran a restaurant in Kingston between 2003 and 2008, jumped at the opportunity to be an anchor tenant in a new commercial building that has been completed just south of the hamlet, on the Campbell property, which is located next door to the Northway Home Hardware/LCBO store and includes the 24 hour gas pumps. The building is also set to house a pharmacy in the new year.

The Cookery includes a retail space of about 1,000 square feet as well as two commercial kitchens, one for the cookery and a second for other commercial food businesses in the area who need to use shared, approved facilities to make their products.

“This new building is a tremendous space. There is lots of parking, lots of light,” she said, showing off the still to be renovated space (a building permit from SF township is pending) on a sunny day last week.

The Cookery will be open early in the morning with coffee, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and take out lunch items for large commuter traffic on Perth Road/Division street as they head into Kingston for work. It will also be open when those same commuters head home.

“These are busy people that work full time. Everybody that I talk to, seems to be in the same boat. The are driving home, wanting to cook a good meal for their family. We will be offering good quality, well prepared meals for people to bring home and serve,” she said. “and we won’t stand still. The Cookery will change what it offers to keep things fresh, and to bring new products on the market.”

Look for the Cookery to open early in 2018.

Feature Article - November 3, 2005

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November 3, 2005

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"Thank You" celebration for Ompah's beloved Alice

by Helen Forsey

Alice’s Restaurant in Ompah was a scene of celebration this past Saturday afternoon as the community turned out en masse to say "Thank You" to the restaurant’s longtime owner-manager (and friend of Santa Claus), Alice Davey.

More than 70 people crowded into the "Hunter’s Cove" lounge downstairs at the establishment formally called the Palmerston Restaurant, but known and loved by all simply as "Alice’s". The afternoon of music, food and festivities was organized in Alice’s honour by a group of community members, including Barbara Sproule, Betty Kelford, Edith Beaulieu and Gilbert Dunham.

Barbara Sproule spoke for everyone when she explained how the event had come about: "When we heard Alice was leaving, we just had to do something," she said. "She has been so good for the community, she’s done so much!"

Tireless and relentlessly hospitable, Alice has made the restaurant a legendary local institution since she and her late husband, Jim Davey, "retired" there 17 years ago. After Jim’s death in 2000, Alice continued to manage the restaurant and adjoining motel, and organize Ompah’s annual Santa Claus Parade, which the Daveys instituted in 1989. This time last year, at age 81, she was still going strong. But some months ago she suffered a bad fall, and after hospitalization and a lengthy recovery, she came to the difficult decision to sell the business.

When her son Henry Davey brought her back to Ompah on Saturday to drop by the restaurant, she was a bit startled to see all the cars there. But with the gorgeous weather and hunting season about to begin, it made sense that business would be booming. "Alice was out of the car right away and headed inside, saying, ‘The girls are going to need help!’” But they found only a few customers upstairs, and Henry suggested they go down and check out the Hallowe’en decorations in the lounge.

The Woman Behind Santa - Alice with Santa Claus andher son, granddaughter and great-grandson, after Ompah's 2001 Parade.

Alice’s appearance was what the crowd below had been waiting for, and as she came down the stairs, there was a burst of spontaneous applause. With cheers and smiles, Alice was led to a seat of honour, words of welcome were spoken and a corsage pinned to her lapel. Then Mayor Ron Maguire presented her with a plaque from the Township of North Frontenac, which read: CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION: to Alice Davey, for her many years of dedication to the youth of North Frontenac, and the longest little Santa Claus Parade in the world.

As the musicians got ready to play, there were more presentations: a bouquet of roses from Marg Bradley and a second corsage, this one prettily handed to Alice by her four-year-old great-granddaughter, Grace Ranallo. Then MC and entertainment organizer Gib Dunham introduced the musical performers.

Ompah’s own Neville Wells began by dedicating his songs to Alice, noting with affection the many times he had had the pleasure of singing there for her guests. Randy Kay from Sharbot Lake treated the crowd to some great songs from his Johnny Cash and Merle Haggart repertoires. Throughout the afternoon, fiddlers Derek Wilson and Matthew MacRae, with Gib Dunham on the keyboard, provided wonderful music and demonstrated their tremendous talent. For one piece, Matthew did the fingering while Derek did the bowing! Other performers were Murray White, Hughie MacDonald and the Ompah Community Choir.

One of the stars of the afternoon was 21-year-old Matthew MacRae, who is a champion step-dancer as well as a gifted musician. He held the audience spellbound with his amazing footwork, putting into his dancing all his enthusiasm and affection for Alice, who sat beaming as she watched.

The sandwiches, squares and other goodies were topped off by a lovely cake, decorated with the words, "Thank you, Alice." The music continued as people signed the guest book and chatted with Alice. Then all the performers were up on stage for the grand finale, the Orange Blossom Special.

Altogether it was an unforgettable community event in honour of an unforgettable lady. Once again, thank you, Alice!

Feature Article - August 17, 2006

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Feature Article - August 17, 2006

Local Fare

by Chava Field-Green

During the summer months, the Frontenac News will be profiling local restaurants. This week’s profiled communities are Harrowsmith, Verona and the picturesque surroundings of Silver Lake .

VERONA

Bravo Restaurant, situated right on Highway 38 just south of the village of Verona , serves a varied menu of Greek and Canadian dishes. Specializing in Greek dishes such as pork and chicken souvlaki, Bravo serves everything from fajita lunch specials for $7.95 to the Sunday night prime rib special, including soup or salad, choice of potatoes and rice pudding or jell-o for dessert, for $11.95. Owner Chris Lianos is pleased to be able to serve good quality food at a great price to the locals.

613-374-5444

MOM RESTAURANT

Located on Main Street (Hwy 38) in Verona , Mom Restaurant serves a full range of Italian and Canadian food. Specializing in pizza ($8.85 to $20.45), Mom offers everything from Spaghetti with meat sauce and a homemade roll for $8.25, to steak, to club house sandwiches with fries and coleslaw for $8.75.

Owner Peter Doulas has been offering good food at a good price for 25 years.

613-374-2817

RIVENDELL RESTAURANT,

Set on the luxurious Rivendell Golf Course located a few minutes north of Verona on Highway 38, Rivendell Restaurant caters to many more than just the golfers who visit the course. With weekday and weekend menus including sandwiches with fries and coleslaw for $6.95, salads, liver and onions, pork chops and steak dinners for 14.99, Rivendell provides excellent dining for everybody. Owner Ken Harper has turned what was once a golfer’s canteen into a full menu restaurant for everybody, and stresses that he wishes to see Rivendell Restaurant as a place for locals as well. 613-374-3404.

SILVER LAKE

SILVER LAKE MOTEL RESTAURANT.

Located across Highway 7 from beautiful Silver Lake , Silver Lake Motel Restaurant offers the classics at an inexpensive price.

The breakfast menu includes omelets done your way, 2 eggs or pancakes for $3.99. Lunches include classics such as BLTs with fries for $5.95 or burgers with fries for $5.25.

For dinner, specials such as the Friday night pork roast with vegetables; potatoes and a small side salad cost $7.99.

New Owners Janina and Steve Pokrajak say they intend to please their customers and provide the best service possible.

613-268-2511

SILVER SEVEN QUALITY FOOD RESTAURANT

Situated across Highway 7 from Silver Lake Provincial Park , Silver Seven specializes in hot sandwiches, and their ever popular burgers. On the menu, classic lunch specials are $5.95 and dinner specials cost around $8.00.

Silver Seven also offers live music on some Thursday evenings; call for a schedule of appearances by groups such as North of 7 and Country Friends.

Owner Brent Cariveau is pleased to serve good food at great prices.

613-268-5693

HARROWSMITH

THE OTHER SIDE RESTAURANT

Located on Main Street (Hwy.38) in Harrowsmith, The Other Side Restaurant is Harrowsmith’s breakfast hot spot.

Lunch specials include soup and a sandwich for $5.99. Dinner specials, starting midweek to Saturday, include fish and chips with coleslaw and tarter sauce for $7.49.

Owner Elaine Wilson is happy to succeed in providing a great service to Harrowsmith. 613-372-3663

PAPA PETE’S PIZZERIA

Situated right on Highway 38 in Harrowsmith, Papa Pete’s offers Harrowsmith’s best pizza.

Prices range from $8.75 for a small tomato sauce and cheese pizza and go all the way up to $24.10 for a Jumbo size (16 slices) Deluxe pizza which includes cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper, bacon, onions, and a choice of sausage or olives.

Papa Pete’s is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 am to Midnight, Thursday 11 am to 1 am and Friday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 am. Slices are available from 11:30 on.

Owner Linda Irish-Burns welcomes all to come enjoy the great pizza offered at Papa Pete’s.

613-372-5693.

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Feature Article - August 10, 2006

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Feature Article - August 10, 2006

LocalFare

byChava Field-Green

During the summer months, the Frontenac News will be profiling local restaurants. This week’s profiled community is the busy village of Northbrook

Captain John’s Fish & Chips Restaurant

Set in Downtown Northbrook beside the Bank of Montreal and across the street from the Hotel, Captain John’s serves the finest fish and chips in the region.

Specializing, of course, in Halibut Fish and Chips, served fresh with coleslaw and dinner roles for $8.00, the menu also includes southern fried chicken and “the best burgers around”.

Owners John and Jane Berry are pleased to announce that Captain John’s Fish and Chips restaurant has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, quite a feat for a semi-retirement business. The couple has worked in or owned six different restaurants in Toronto and brought their restaurant expertise up to Northbrook in the form of Captain John’s. 613-336-3038

Kellar’s Kountry Kitchen

Set just a mile south of Northbrook on 41 Highway, Kellar’s Kountry Kitchen strives to provide healthier adaptations of the classic Canadian meals.

The menu includes an all day breakfast, daily lunch and dinner specials and kids and seniors menus. Dinner specials include liver and onions and roast beef. Prices range from $3.99 to $20 with a special of chicken fingers on a bun with fries and coleslaw ringing in at $7.99. But the real specialty of Kellar’s is its delicious baked goods, including homemade pies, butter tarts and pre-ordered birthday and celebration cakes.

Owners Brian and Sandra Kellar cater to the older and younger generations. With cholesterol free oil and a lots of diet foods they try to look out for everybody. Sandra makes it clear that they are very excited to hear good reviews back from many of their clientele.

613-336-9903

Loafer’s Pizza

Located right on Highway 41, two minutes from Northbrook , Loafers Pizza prides itself on providing great service at an affordable price.

Specializing in Pizza, Loafer’s menu includes wings, garlic bread and meat balls. The pizza menu includes the famous Mexicali pizza made up of mild salsa, seasoned ground beef, mozzarella and cheddar cheese and nacho cheese, with pizza ranging from $9.50-$31 for a party pizza.

Owners Fawn Holmes and Derek Vandebelt are pleased to offer great pizza to their community. 613-336-9333

The Northbrook Hotel

Located on 41 Highway, right beside IGA, The Northbrook Hotel Restaurant offers 6 menus to cater to its diners, including seniors and kids menus.

Daily lunch specials include roast beef, soup and fries for the affordable price of $4.95. The dinner menu includes chicken alfredo, hot sandwiches and steak for between $5.99 and $13.95. One example of the dinner special is a 6 ounce strip loin served with choice of potato, vegetables and coleslaw and a light dessert for $5.99.

Owners Brian and Susan Armstrong are pleased to have the Northbrook landmark open once again. It provides a lovely family restaurant in a nostalgic atmosphere.

613-336-2727

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Feature Article - March 1, 2007

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Feature Article - March 1, 2007

Captain John's gets new owner

by Jeff Green

The good news is that Captain John’s Fish and Chips in Northbrook , which has been up for sale for a couple of years, has a new owner. The better news is that the new owner, Brian Heath, will be increasing the hours that the restaurant is open, but will not be altering the recipe for fish and chips that has made Captain John’s famous throughout the region.

“The staff know the recipe that the previous owners developed, and we will continue to be filleting the fish ourselves, and using the same batter that has always been used here. And we will keep making our chips from scratch,” said Brain Heath from the restaurant earlier this week.

He has been busy painting and redecorating the dining room over the past few weeks, and starting this week, Captain John’s will be open Thursday until Sunday each week. Brian is hoping to add extra days over the next couple of months, and will be up to full summer hours by mid-May.

“The staff that were working here when I bought the restaurant have stayed on, and they have been very good to me. As time goes on, I hope to add to the menu, but we will continue to sell fish, chicken, and homemade desserts.

Brian Heath is new to the restaurant business, but not new to the area. Along with his wife Debbie, he purchased property south of Kaladar seven years ago, and 3 years ago he built an off-grid house on the property. Previously, the Heaths had been living in Campbellford, where Brian worked for DART cups for 20 years. Debbie currently works at the Arden Court group home.

The couple have two children, Jessica, 13, and Tony 10, both of whom attend school at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne

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Feature Article - June 5, 2008

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Feature Article - June 5, 2008 Maples brings beachfront dining back in Sharbot LakeBy Jeff Green

Town Crier Paddy O'Connor, Owners Lorrette & Phil Gray, Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski. Photo Janet Ranger.

Lorrette and Phil Gray are approaching their fifth anniversary as the operators of Maples Pizza, and a few weeks ago they opened their new restaurant, the Maples, at the beach in Sharbot Lake.

They purchased Sunsets earlier this year from Andrea Dickinson and Steve Duggan, and spent the winter preparing for their opening. Since May 10 the pizzeria and the restaurant have both been open, but that is going to change.

In an interview during the afternoon lull at the restaurant last week, Phil Gray said, “We're hoping to have the pizzeria moved over here by July 1, and we should have our liquor license within three weeks.”

The Grays have been working flat out running the two businesses, while Phil has been overseeing the construction of an addition at the rear to handle the pizza ovens and other equipment.

“Phil covers the kitchen end. He's been cooking in restaurants for 40 years, and I've been in the service end for a long time as well,” said Lorette, “so it was really a natural move for us when Steve and Andrea put the restaurant up for sale. It was a matter of finding out how we could afford it, but by selling our other property we seem to have been able to swing it.”

When the Maples Restaurant opened on Mother's Day weekend, there were glitches with equipment - the cash registers decided not to work and a heat lamp literally went on the fritz, but an appreciative crowd enjoyed having a new restaurant in town, and people have been streaming to the Maples ever since.

“We want to cater to the local people, and our menu is designed with that in mind. We will serve liver and onions, hamburgers, club sandwiches and all the items people have been asking for, and as well, since we are going to have pizza, we will also serve light Italian fare,” said Phil Gray.

Among main course entrees in the dinner menu are chicken parmagiana, pasta primavera, and lasagne, as well as Chicken Kiev and New York Sirloin.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip and Bruschetta are two of the starters on the menu, along with Nachos, Cheddar and Jalapeno Munchers, and stuffed mushroom caps.

The Maples will be open 7 days a week until at least Thanksgiving weekend, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pizza will be available in the restaurant and at a take out window off the west-facing parking lot.

The Grays are contemplating closing for one or two days a week during the winter months. “But that is a long way off,” said Phil Gray, “for now we are working hard to get our staff trained and ready for the summer traffic.”

The Maples should have everything in place: the liquor license, take out counter, and pizza ovens, by the first of July, which coincidentally is the busiest day of the year at the Oso beach and the 5th Anniversary of the opening of Maples Pizza.

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Dec 4/08 - AH Community Builder Award

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Feature Article - December 4, 2008 Addington Highlands Community Builder Awardby Angela Bright

Werner Lips was somewhat surprised Saturday night at the Addington Highlands Christmas banquet when he was presented with the Community Builder Award for 2008. Those who live here and in the surrounding area know how deserving Mr. Lips is of receiving this distinction, and it is something that was destined to happen. The Swiss Inn is celebrating 40 years in business, though when Mr. and Mrs. Lips moved into the area and purchased the restaurant, they surely had no idea how deeply involved they would become in the community or even how long they would stay. Mr. Lips commented that at one time he was part of 19 different committees. Mrs. Lips, however, wisely suggested that he cut back at least somewhat. Congratulations to you, Werner and Martha, on the recognition of your service and dedication over the years to the community and its people.

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 14, 2009 New restaurant on Hwy 41by Jeff Green

Chris and Melissa Evans have been living and working in the restaurant business in Prince Edward County for several years, and this winter they took advantage of the slow winter season to take a southern vacation to the Dominican Republic in late January.

When they got back, Melissa contacted a realtor, looking for some land in Addington Highlands. Instead of the vacation property she was looking for, Melissa found a restaurant that contained a three-bedroom apartment and was available at a pretty good price.

So, on the Family Day holiday, Melissa and Chris made their first offer on the property, and in early April they jumped into a new venture, as owner-operators of their own restaurant.

The restaurant, now named Addison's after Chris and Melissa's 13-year-old son, has been open under different names and management over the past few years, most recently as Kellar's Kountry Kitchen.

When people come into the restaurant, they see a spotlessly clean, freshly painted and decorated room, with a colourful aquarium in the left front corner of the building.

They are also greeted by Melissa Evans, who says “It is very important to us that people have a good experience when they come to eat in our restaurant. We need to give them good food and friendly service. That's all there is to it”.

That's one of the reasons that Chris and Melissa wanted to get the restaurant open quickly after they purchased the business.

“We certainly did not want to open our doors for the first time on the May 24th weekend,” said Chris.

Melissa and Chris are bringing a pretty straightforward strategy towards their first family-owned business. Chris is the main cook, and Melissa runs the service end of the business. They will be hiring staff for the busy summer season, but the couple intend to be front and centre as they greet their new neighbours and new customers who have been coming in since they opened the restaurant a couple of weeks ago.

“We've had a great response so far,” said Chris. The menu that is on offer at Addison's can be described as a new style family restaurant menu, but Chris said that as time goes on, “we will continually listen to our customers as we develop our menu over the next few months.”

While Addison's menu includes many of the classic mainstays of family fare, there is a modern edge to the cuisine. For instance, the Mother’s Day specials included Silk Chocolate Truffle and Vanilla Pannacotta with multi-berry compote on the dessert menu.

Thus far, pasta Wednesdays and steak Fridays have proven to be popular and in response to customers’ requests, Addison's will be seeking a liquor license.

“People have been saying they would like the option of a glass of wine with their meal so we will be getting a license over the next few months.”

Addison's is located at 11893 Hwy 41, just south of Northbrook on the east side, and is open six days a week, from 8 am until 8 pm. They are closed on Tuesdays.

“It's the only way we can get a day off,” said Chris, “and we do need a day off each week”.

Call 613-336-8265; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.