A longtime Calgary diner is relying on a community fundraising campaign to stay afloat after accumulating unpaid property taxes, missed utility bills and other debts dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Deerhead Café, located in the Greenview Industrial area and open since the 1950s, is at risk of closing, according to Kelly Kim, daughter of the owners. Kim said her family has poured personal paycheques and savings into keeping the business running but has run out of resources to cover outstanding costs.
“My siblings and I and our family have been really trying to continue the struggling business with our own paycheques (and) with our own savings. And unfortunately, we’ve kind of exhausted all of that,” Kim said.
Mounting Costs Behind the Closure Risk
Kim said the café’s financial troubles include back rent, missed utility payments and significant property tax bills. She started a GoFundMe campaign as what she called a last-ditch effort, aiming both to raise money and to draw public attention to the business’s situation.
As of Oct. 2, the campaign, with a goal of $100,000, had raised roughly $6,500.
Kim said her parents, the café’s owners, were initially reluctant to launch a fundraiser. “They hate handouts, and they are the type of people who are wanting to give back to the community and not take,” she said, adding they were hesitant about the GoFundMe but have been moved by the community response since it began.
Customers Rally to Support the Business
Longtime patrons and newcomers alike have been showing up at the diner since word of its financial difficulties spread. Tom Matthews, who estimates he has been a customer for 30 to 40 years, said he was saddened by the prospect of the café closing.
Rob Drummond said he returned to the café after about a 20-year absence once he learned of its situation, saying he preferred to direct his spending toward a small business rather than a larger chain restaurant.
Matt Wallace, marketing and outreach co-ordinator for Greenview Industrial, said the café has become an important part of the area’s identity. “It’s just an iconic landmark here in Greenview, and we really appreciate it being here because it just brings so much character and awareness to how great this community is,” he said.
Kim said that while donations are appreciated, she hopes most of the support will come in the form of customers visiting the restaurant directly. She said the early response, with more diners coming through the door, has been encouraging. “I honestly thought we were going to have to do this by ourselves,” she said.
This article references reporting from:
