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The Deerhead Cafe, a decades-old diner in Calgary's Greenview industrial community, is at risk of closing due to financial struggles worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners' daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $100,000, and the community is rallying to support the beloved restaurant.
The Deerhead Cafe, a beloved restaurant located in Calgary's Greenview industrial community, is at risk of shutting its doors for good. The diner has been open since the 1950s and is a community staple.
Deerhead Cafe Faces Financial Crisis
The owners' daughter, Kelly Kim, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $100,000. As of Oct. 2, it had raised around $6,500. Financial Struggles Threaten Deerhead Cafe The Deerhead Cafe has been a community staple for decades, but its current financial situation is critical. The diner is still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the family has been trying to keep the business afloat using their own paycheques and savings.
Kelly Kim, the daughter of the owners, said that they have exhausted their personal resources. The business faces immediate financial hurdles, including outstanding property taxes, missed utility payments, and accumulated debts. Kim explained that any money they get, including a good portion of their paycheques, has been going right into the business just to keep the lights on and utilities going, with hopes of paying off back rent. She also noted the incredible expenses through property taxes.
As a last-ditch effort, Kim started a GoFundMe not just for community donations but to raise awareness about the situation. The campaign has a lofty goal of $100,000, but as of Oct. 2, it had only raised around $6,500. Community Support and Customer Loyalty For longtime customers like Tom Matthews, the thought of the diner closing is quite sad.
Longtime Customers Cherish Diner History
He has been going to the Deerhead Cafe for 30 to 40 years and has celebrated every birthday there with his daughters for breakfast. He said the cook always makes him happy birthday pancakes, even though they do not know each other's names. Matthews always comes for breakfast, which he says is a great breakfast for $15, and he appreciates the warm welcome and the atmosphere of the place.
He is not alone; many customers return for the community that has been built over the decades, as well as the tasty food at an affordable price. Kim added that the diner provides a space for community to come together, and some individuals who met last week are now best friends. The Deerhead Cafe has been open since the 1950s, and the community it has built is one of the biggest reasons customers come back.
Other customers, like Rob Drummond, returned to the Deerhead Cafe after around a 20-year absence because he heard of the financial situation. He said he would rather support a small business than a corporation, and he has been going to a corporate-type restaurant, so it is good to keep the money with the small business.
That mindset has been driving a lot of recent business, with several first-time customers saying once they heard the news, they wanted to support a neighbour. Greenview Industrial marketing and outreach co-ordinator Matt Wallace said that supporting neighbours is important, and the Deerhead Cafe is an iconic landmark that brings character and awareness to the community.
Community Support Boosts Diner Hopes
GoFundMe and Future Hopes While Kim is incredibly grateful for all the donations and support, she hopes people simply come to the restaurant as customers to show their support. She said her parents are very hesitant to ask for help, as they hate handouts and are the type of people who want to give back to the community and not take.
They were very hesitant to begin with the GoFundMe, but now that they see the community come together, it is quite incredible to see. The early returns have been promising, with customers showing up to enjoy a meal in the old-school diner, and some adding they plan on coming back after a positive experience. Kim said they really appreciate the community that has come together, and she honestly thought they were going to have to do this by themselves.
The Deerhead Cafe remains a joyous place on Friday mornings, with a group of singers meeting weekly to enjoy breakfast and the community that has formed around the diner. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, the diner's financial situation is anything but, and the family continues to struggle. The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $100,000 to cover outstanding property taxes, missed utility payments, and accumulated debts.
As of Oct. 2, it had raised around $6,500, but the support from the community has been heartening. The Deerhead Cafe has been a fixture in Greenview Industrial since the 1950s, and its potential closure would be a significant loss. The community's response, with both longtime and new customers showing up, demonstrates the impact the diner has had over the years.
Kim and her family hope that continued support will help them overcome the financial hurdles and keep the diner open for years to come.
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CTVToronto:Community rallies as Deerhead Café in Greenview Industrial faces possible closureThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Deerhead Café Greenview Industrial Kelly Kim Gofundme COVID-19 Tom Matthews Matt Wallace Deerhead Cafe Community Support Calgary Restaurant Closure
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