LETHBRIDGE-Hans Isele has owned and operated the Centre Village Mall Smitty’s for decades.
“It’s been my life for 39 years, I was 34 years old when I came to Lethbridge.”
Come Sunday, the doors will close on his legacy. Centre Village Mall is undergoing massive renovations, including the addition of Save On Foods, right next door to Smitty’s.
“They need 14 feet of our kitchen, so we have no kitchen.”
Isele found out about two months ago that his month-to-month lease would be terminated, and now staffing issues are forcing him to leave early.
“We have a very good staff here and they’ve been very good to us even though they heard about it, the waitresses never quit but the cooks, they got other jobs and you can’t blame them.”
Isele says he was caught off guard by the news; he had been preparing for renovations.
Mall management issued this statement saying Smitty’s has been a valued tenant for its 44 years.
“Smitty’s has been an important tenant at Centre Village Mall for more than 40 years. The restaurant’s lease had expired and is now a month-to-month lease. We have been working together to find a new location within the mall, given that part of the kitchen is being impacted by the addition of a secondary entrance as part of the mall’s extensive redevelopment. In fact, we hope to sign a conditional agreement that would see Smitty’s reopen in a new location as soon as possible.” Bill Kennedy, Anthem Properties’ Executive Vice President of Investments Isele says the location they’ve offered does not have a kitchen and would need extensive renovations, something he isn’t up to tackling at 73 years old.
The regulars here say they are disappointed by the news and don’t know where they’ll go for their morning cup of coffee.
“It was very saddening and a shock to begin with,” adds Bernice Taylor.
Her sister-in-law Patricia Maynes echoes that, saying there are not many breakfast options for sit-down restaurants on the north end of town.
“Very sad because this is home away from home and we just don’t know what we’re gonna do now.”
Isele says if he finds a partner to take on a new location, he will look to re-locate. He also owns a second Smitty’s located off of Mayor Magrath Drive South.
The last cup of coffee in the Centre Village Mall location will be poured on Sunday.
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