After 11 years offering Pho and Pad Thai in downtown Orillia, the Viet & Thai restaurant served its final customers Thursday night.
Owner Xuan Lam says his restaurant’s profits were almost non-existent during the past few months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
With rent for April, May and June piling up, he’s unable to continue operations.
“It’s close to $12,000 I have to pay,” said Lam in an interview. “I don’t have that money.”
After moving to Orillia to open the restaurant at the corner of Mississaga and Front streets in 2009, Lam’s traditional Thai and Vietnamese recipes have gathered a devoted following.
Meg McGowan, who moved to Orillia three years ago, ate at Viet & Thai “at least once a week.”
“They were just really friendly whenever we came in,” said McGowan. “I just love the downtown area and I hope no more stores or restaurants close because of COVID-19.”
Lam says It’s been an emotional few weeks, as he and his partner, Delia Lam, prepared to close the eatery.
“We’ve been crying the last ten days,” said Lam.
Supporters of the restaurant began a GoFundMe online fundraiser but Lam declined the offer: he had already decided to close.
“I can’t take their money and put it in my pocket,” he said. “People don’t want me gone, that’s why they tried to help.”
While the Ontario government announced various supports for small business tenants and landlords last week, Lam said that’s not enough to keep him afloat.
The program would provide loans to landlords to cover up to 50 per cent of commercial rent.
According to Lam, his landlord wouldn’t apply for that assistance.
But even with the government’s help, Lam said expenses are too high to keep going with such a reduced customer demand due to concerns about COVID-19.
“It would be too late for me,” said Lam.
Noah Schaefer, an Orillia resident who started the online fundraiser, said the eatery brought something different to the city’s food scene.
“It brings a cultural element I think we’re missing up here,” said Schaefer. “I thought it was really important to the town.”
