(Updated
11:30 a.m., April 26)
Cheddar Et Cetera closing its doors for good this weekend
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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The
St. Albert Cheese outlet store, Cheddar Et
Cetera, will be closing its doors for good
on May 1. File photo
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The
Cheddar Et Cetera cow is finally coming down, but not because
of a city bylaw.
Slumping
sales has convinced the stores owner, St. Albert
Cheese, to take a pass on renewing their lease in the
Crowne Pointe Plaza at Trim and Watters Roads. That means
that as of May 1, cheese lovers will no longer be able
to buy their favourite fromage at the specialty store.
According
a press release issued by St. Albert, the decision to
close the store was based on the availability of their
products at larger retail stores and the fact that the
stores lease was up for renewal.
The
stores closure will put two full-time and six part-time
employees out of work. Some of them will be offered jobs
at the St. Alberts flagship store, in St. Albert.
Cheddar
Et Cetera gained notoriety in 2010 when the city ordered
the store to take down the lifesize plastic cow that adorns
its roof, or face a hefty fine.
When
the stores owners respectfully declined, it touched
off a petition campaign that gathered over 9,000 signatures
and persuaded the city to undertake a review of the citys
permanent sign bylaw.
In
the end, the city granted Cheddar Et Cetera a four-year
waiver and eventually allowed them to keep the cow permanently.
That
was last July. At the time nobody thought permanently
would only last 10 months.
Jacques
Leury has managed the store since it first opened in 2006,
and he started the petition to keep the cow on the roof,
and although he cant comment on the reasons behind
the stores closing, he did want to thank the many
customers and especially the regulars who kept coming
back.
We
had a lot of loyal customers and we had some interesting
times. Im definitely going to have fond memories
of this place, said Leury.
One
of the stores biggest supporters was Orléans
Ward Coun. Bob Monette, who was also a regular customer.
Its
a real shame. The store had become a trademark in the
community and a link to our agriculture roots, Monette
said in commenting on the announced closure. The
staff was always very friendly and welcoming. Its
going to be a huge loss for Orléans."
Customers
will have chance to shop at Cheddar Et Cetera this Saturday.
As for the cow, it will be given a new home in St. Albert.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business partners.)
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