I’m truly saddened to learn that Burnaby’s long-running The PearTree is closing. Since its opening in 1998, the restaurant has been a beacon of regional cuisine. In fact, in the late 1990s, it was one of the first ‘fine dining’ rooms to establish away from downtown Vancouver. (One of the originals was Bruno Marti’s Le Belle Auberge, in Ladner.)
Owners Scott and Stephanie Jaeger have announced plans to shutter their celebrated room, after 23 years, on August 15th. For sure, it’s been a challenging time surviving in spite of Covid-19. But their prime reason is: “due to irreconcilable lease negotiations.”
You and I know both know that’s usually polite speak for something far more unsavoury behind the scenes.
A forty percent rent increase
Here’s a few more details from the release.
“The decision by The PearTree owners, Scott and Stephanie Jaeger, did not come lightly and lease negotiations on their Burnaby Heights location had been ongoing well before the pandemic to find a workable agreement. Facing more than a forty percent rent increase, a landlord’s desire for a ‘demo clause’ in year one, along with a number of other unworkable clauses have left the reputable husband-wife hospitality team no choice but to close their restaurant as of August 15, 2020.”
The PearTree weathered the initial Covid storm. Jumping into take-out, they made all the adaptations needed to reopen, protect their staff and safely maintain standards and service. What’s even more impressive, this month, The Pear Tree managed to return to last year’s business levels.
“The last several months have been a challenge to say the least,” says Stephanie Jaeger. “The dedication and commitment from the staff have been unbelievable and with amazing customers and suppliers supporting take out and restricted dining, we brought July sales back to be on par with last year so to not be able to find a solution to the lease is very disappointing.”
No kidding! More polite speak.
I know this isn’t an isolated situation. Across Canada, many independent restaurateurs are today facing similar anguished decisions. And, to be fair, in a few cases, landlords are being realistic, pragmatic and accommodating. As Scott Jaeger says, “I’m the only restaurant I know who’s paying rent right now.”
I understand that property owners also ultimately have to answer to the bank. But to inflict these kinds of demands on a reputable and long-standing lessee—my guess is a perfect tenant—is at best myopic and, at worst, plain greedy. Not to mention ill-timed.
Moving on
No doubt the Jaegers will find another way to pursue their passion for excellence. In fact, plans are already in place to offer private in-home dining at a similarly elevated level.
Also not to be overlooked is the role that Scott and Stephanie Jaeger have played well beyond the primary operation of The PearTree. Both have mentored an extraordinary number of people who’ve gone on to their own successful careers.
One can hope only that Karma will ultimately get to play a role. But it won’t matter. In the meantime another stalwart and pioneer will be needlessly gone. And Burnaby Heights will be poorer for its loss.
Addendum:
A couple of people have suggested I’m being too hard on the landlord, pointing in particular to the ‘air tax’ that is based on a property’s development potential. In this case it’s six storeys. The current structure is two storeys. The Jaegers choose not to make the landlord’s name public. But they advise they have been trying very hard to work with them over the last while, since the building was sold (a few years ago) by the owners from whom they originally rented.
The point here is that these are extraordinary and very precarious times for everyone, but especially for anyone in the restaurant business. However, there are numerous instances of property owners / landlords being accommodating during Covid19 (see Bishop’s for example). But, from the information that Scott Jaeger, this owner (who purchased relatively recently) seemed very determined to get them out, Covid or no Covid, and had no interest in participating in CECRA (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance), for example.
It’s also apparent that perhaps because of all the attention on the residential housing market some of the parallel activities in commercial real estate have been all but ignored.
More to come…
(From the release)
The PearTree Restaurant has been continually recognized regionally and nationally as one of Canada’s leaders in the restaurant business. Stephanie and Scott Jaeger have sparked the careers of many hospitality professionals and mentored many at their restaurant, as well as in their community roles as active member and past president of Les Dames Escoffier BC Chapter (Stephanie) and active founding member and past president of Chefs’ Table Society of BC (Scott). Both Stephanie and Chef Scott have been individually inducted into the BCRFA restaurant Hall of Fame and the entire team past and present is proud to be named again in 2020 to Canadas Top 100.
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