Sea Glass Waterfront Grill in Sidney has suddenly closed after years in business, with the owners citing increasing operating costs as one of the reasons. The eatery at the Van Isle Marina has been around for more than a decade, but on Saturday, the faces behind the food said they had opted to permanently close.
'Sea Glass is not alone — all restaurants are struggling, and it won’t be long before a burger and fries will be over $30,' wrote Ann Lockley, who, alongside Zach Vincent, operated the restaurant on Harbour Road in Sidney for more than two years. 'Unfortunately, the cost of doing business has increased three-fold, if not more, since we took it over in September 2022, and although we could put our prices up, we don’t feel right charging what we would have to even break even,' said Lockley. She wrote on Facebook to announce the closure via a post that’s since received an outpouring of support, with many commenters expressing their sadness. The restaurant 'offered guests fine West Coast dining and exceptional service in a casual waterfront setting,' according to information on its website. 'Thank you all for your love of the restaurant through the years and sharing your birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and even weddings with us,' said Lockley. According to the organization, guest count was lower this past summer for 70 per cent of restaurant companies compared to the same time the year prior. 'Overall, only 15 per cent of restaurants say the current business climate is good or very good,' reads a news release from Oct. 21. The decline in foot traffic and sales is 'discouraging,' said Restaurants Canada CEO Kelly Higginson at the time. 'Without more political action on affordability and the cost of doing business, it’s unlikely that the situation for restaurants will improve in the coming months,' the release said