A banquet hall sits empty at Ricky's all day grill in Medicine Hat ( Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

‘I have nothing:’ Catering companies take big hit due to gathering restrictions

Nov 30, 2020 | 7:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Peggy Kleiter remembers the days when it was business as usual at her catering business, Riverside Catering & Bakery, located inside Ricky’s All Day Grill.

“ We would be booked a couple of times during the week, just about every weekend and that banquet room at Ricky’s would be booked solid,” she said

With Christmas parties being planned this time of year, her phone would be ringing off the hook with clients eager to plan the food for their festivities. But last week, her phone was ringing off the hook, but for a completely different reason.

“Our phone did not stop ringing off the hook, because we had nothing but cancellations for all our Christmas parties, everything was canceled,” she said.

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Her banquet room now sits empty. On Tuesday the province announced a ban on all social gatherings, putting her business, which relies heavily on group social settings, in limbo.

“It is really sad where we are at today because we are the oldest profession in the world, cook and serve people, and we can’t do what we are here and what we are meant to do,” Kleiter added.

That sentiment is shared over at Custom Catering by the Patio Cafe downtown.

“It’s numbing, it is really sad to see this, and it is not just us, it is for everybody. All my restaurateur friends we are all looking around going ‘and what are we supposed to do?,” said Corey Fricke, owner/operator of Custom Catering by the Patio Cafe.

Fricke’s business relies heavily on corporate clients, and this time of year she would normally plan food for corporate Christmas functions.

“I have nothing, literally nothing I am catering. The only thing I am doing now is heat and serve meals which I pack up individually and people come and get them,” Fricke said,

Their business is also hoping to generate a little revenue this year through Christmas baking trays.

Over at the Cypress Centre, which would normally house big functions such as weddings, corporate parties, and graduation ceremonies, it is a similar story with caterer Shooting Star Events

“We are losing money every month,” said owner Stan Sakamoto

“For small businesses, if they don’t have savings, you are going to be out of business, and it is very stressful for small businesses,” Sakamoto said.

Sakomoto’s greatest concern is for his staff. In a usual year, he would employ 40 to 50 people part-time and rely on eight core members to get him through, but now with restrictions, his employees are working very little.

“Currently right now there are no banquet hall openings so none of the staff are working,” he said.

“I’m thankful that the government is able to offer through various programs $500 a week, but still if you are raising a family, and you got a mortgage payment and rent, utilities and say a car payment, there’s not very much left over for the people so there is alot of stress out there,” he said.

Sakamoto has been relying on years of savings to get his business through the pandemic. Despite the loss in business, Sakomoto understands why the restrictions are put in place.

“We just need to continue to be aware, wash our hands and be a safe distance and wear masks,” he said.

Sakamoto has owned and operated his catering company for 31 years and says by far it has been one of the hardest things he has had to navigate, but he remains optimistic.

“We can get through it, you know we just have to listen to science,” Sakamoto said.