'A very sad day': Boston Pizza Victoria location closes after 35 years
CTV
A long-standing Victoria restaurant has closed its doors after 35 years in business.
The Boston Pizza at the corner of Hillside Avenue and Blanshard Street is closing amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, and after two years of pandemic restrictions.
"It's a very sad day," said owner Jeremy Dewey on Monday. "It's been very emotional."
"I've been here for 35 years," he said. "I started as a server and worked my way up to ownership."
Boston Pizza Victoria owner Jeremy Dewey is shown: Jan. 10, 2022 (CTV News)
Reduced sales, staff shortages, increased food and labour costs, and Dewey's mental health are all reasons why the location has shut its doors.
Dewey estimates that sales have been down about $1 million over the past two years. The restaurant saw stretches where sales were down 70 per cent per month compared to previous seasons, and at one point sales were down 95 per cent compared to previous years.
The recent surge of COVID-19 cases has also taken a toll on the business.
