Kamloops smorgasbord restaurant looking at co-op model to stay in business
The Smorgasbord Deli and Country Garden Greenhouse is closing at end of this summer after decades of serving Kamloops.
Owner Anita Strong announced the business closure on social media today, April 17. The building in which it is located has been purchased for a pizza restaurant and the Strong’s have to move out before the end of August.
“We have been talking about retiring anyway but may end up just closing up the shop.” Strong said in the post. “Not that we want to, but we don’t have anyone ready to take over in this short amount of time.”
The greenhouse side of the business has been operating since 1982 out of Monte Lake and opened at its current location on Victoria Street to operate alongside the Smorgasbord Deli in 1999.
“This pairing combines the best of both possibilities, with the deli taking up the slack in the off-season and the garden centre providing a lovely ambiance for a leisurely lunch among the greenery,” Strong said.
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The Strong’s are considering a co-operative ownership model proposed by regular customer, local business consultant and co-operative developer Daphane Nelson.
“The cooperative model is built around groups that come together in a democratic process where all members have a say,” Nelson said. "I like to help those who can’t find buyer’s transition to employee owned cooperatives to find potentially viable buyers for the business.”
Nelson is facilitating an information session on cooperative ownership and investment options to look at carrying Strong’s business on in a new location.
“People coming to the meeting should be interested in the deli and greenhouse and be able to work well with others,” she said. “We’ll talk about what cooperatives are whether there’s a group wanting to take on ownership.”
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The session is on Wednesday, April 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 225 7 Avenue.
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