Amy's did not reopen after the March lockdown. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Local legacy

P.A. restaurant permanently closes after more than 30 years

Nov 24, 2020 | 5:05 PM

One of Prince Albert’s best known restaurants is closing its doors after over 33 years.

Amy Hadley, owner and operator of Amy’s On Second, announced the news in a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday.

“The decision to close Amy’s on Second is a difficult and emotional one to make,” Hadley said. “But like many restaurants, our business has not been able to survive the COVID-19 crisis.”

She thanked staff, without whom she said Amy’s success would not have been possible, and customers for their support and for allowing the restaurant to share in their special moments and celebrations.

“We have always felt that Amy’s is more than a restaurant,” she continued in part. “It has been a labour of love, a second home where our families have grown up and an integral part of the community and its many projects.”

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Amy’s on Second gift cards will be honoured at Ricky’s All Day Grill and Family Pizza, the statement continued.

COVID’s major impact on restaraunts

Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce told paNOW Amy’s on Second was known around the province as a “must stop location” for anyone in Prince Albert.

“I’m certainly saddened,” McLellan said. “Amy’s was a restaurant legacy operator in this province, they’ve been in P.A. for a very long time and it’s simply too bad.”

Uncertainty about future regulations and nightly customer counts has been especially challenging for restaurants, McLellan said. He added they must also ensure customers and staff are safe, all while operating with at best 50 per cent capacity.

“It’s a very complicating challenging industry at the best of times and COVID has made restaurants perhaps one of the hardest [businesses] in our province to run,” he said.

While provincial and federal government supports, like wage and rent subsidies and emergency small businesses payments have been very helpful, McLellan said some restaurants still won’t survive the pandemic.

Success, he said, depends in large part on their ability to pivot to takeout service.

“But not every restaurant is set up for that,” he continued. “Their menu is maybe not as easy as pizza to take-out.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom