It’s obvious Alan Pickersgill did not consult Carden Street Cafe owner Jeremy Robbins before he wrote his column The View from Here (Tribune, Jan 12).
Robbins was hopeful that he could remain open, but he could not justify signing a five-year lease. The landlord received an offer from another party. Thus, the timing of the cafe’s closure was not a choice made by the owner.
And yes, the risk of taking on a five-year lease while in a precarious financial situation was the final straw, but the primary cause of the cafe closure was the ongoing construction on Carden Street.
A full season without the use of the patio; others where the surrounding environment was constantly noisy and dusty; the complete closure of the street for months at a time; limited and difficult access to the door of the restaurant; and lack of parking all contributed to the difficulties faced by Robbins.
Numerous consultations with city hall and empty promises occurred during this time. Obviously, Robbins eagerly anticipated reaping the benefits of the new, improved Carden Street. Unfortunately it is too late for him to do that.
As for Pickersgill’s comments regarding the sale of gift certificates, Robbins stopped the sale of gift certificates as soon as the issue of the lease came to a head. The sale of fixtures only took place once the lease was transferred over to the new restaurant owner, who purchased the fixtures.
In short, there should be no doubt that Robbins is an upstanding member of the downtown business community.
I find it extremely unfortunate that at a time when Guelph is mourning the loss of one of its iconic restaurants, Pickersgill ignored his due diligence and chose to focus on these issues. I’m sure Robbins would have been happy to speak with him to present the facts.
Heather Snider   Guelph