Popular resto closes location here (con't)

Cora executive vice president Dave Polny said it is one of only a very few that has closed outside Quebec (where the chain is run under different management and where Cora was born) in the restaurant's more than 20 year history.

Another is in Nepean, outside Ottawa, closed after a 10-year lease was up.

And a third in Bolton had various “financial difficulties” that resulted in its failure.

Despite being in an upscale area, Cora couldn’t hold its own at the Manning and Amy Craft Dr. plaza after opening two and a half years ago.

Polny said the Walker Rd. location, which opened a year earlier, remains stable.

The Lakeshore restaurant was owned by franchisee Glen Mullins.

Polny said the Walker location opened before the recession hit “and managed to get itself a base.”

Not so Lakeshore.

“The second one opened just after most of that (recession) was happening and I think it really affected what our numbers were anticipated there.”

Polny said Windsor was “hit harder” than other cities by the recession and there was the 2009 municipal strike.

“It never really took off from the ground and it never really got the support that we anticipated.”

Meanwhile, Polny said overhead is expensive for a typical Cora outlet.

“We have pretty well high overhead on our food costs and it takes a certain bottom line to continue to manage a location profitably.”

A lot of that has to do with the quantity of fresh fruit and vegetables the store includes in its dishes (see picture above).

But he also acknowledged that price might have been a factor.

“Again as far as your average-going breakfast, the Canadian who thinks a breakfast is 3.99 bacon and eggs I would say that would be standard comment.”

But those who support the chain “certainly if you can provide the quality and the service we’re seeing that they’re supportive of it.”

Meanwhile Cora tends to do extremely well in markets where there are universities and younger families with disposable incomes.

Polny said even high school students have proven a new market.

“I think our age demographic went into the 16+ in the last few years,” he said.

Normally the restaurant targets females aged 35+ who tend to be interested in eating nutritionally.

WindsorOntarioNews.com