KAWARTHA LAKES-The Coronavirus has taken its toll on local small businesses, including Dolce Bakery which announced today it is closing for good due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that unfortunately Dolce is no longer able to carry on and is permanently closed regretfully. The stress and uncertainty of COVID-19 has taken its toll in so many ways unimaginable. Owner Sandy Terzo siad in a Facebook post. “The financial resources to stay closed indefinitely until we can return back to our usual lives are not available especially to a small semi-seasonal business in our small town.”
Dolce has been open in Fenelon Falls for six years providing cakes, catering a much more.
Many small businesses deemed unessential were forced to close their doors after the government declared a State of Emergency. Some continue to offer sales online, take-out and delivery but the impact to their bottom lines has been devastating. So far the federal government has offered interest free loans to businesses with payroll over $50,000. Many small mom and pop organizations, including Dolce, don’t qualify.
“My chest feels so heavy all of my sweat blood and tears were into my business.” Terzo told Kawartha 411 News.
Terzo says she tried to negotiate a deferral of her lease payments but was not successful.
“It was such a pleasure to serve in a small community with big hearts! I will miss all of your smiling faces, the brief conversations we’ve had and all of the good times. I will especially miss creating my pastries and food for you! I am proud to say that I live in Fenelon Falls, and I thank you all for welcoming me and my business with open arms.” Terzo said.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (FCIB)says they are hearing more and more stories like this.
“First of all I want to say I am so sorry to hear about this business closing.” Ryan Mallough, Director Provincial Affairs, CFIB told Kawartha 411 News. “Stories like this are starting to crop up more and more across the province.”
Mallough says they are hearing about a lot of roadblocks for some small business owners and they are pushing the federal government to get rid of the $50,000 payroll requirement for the interest free loan.
They are also pushing the provincial government to step up and help small businesses in Ontario.
“In Saskatchewan they have recently implemented a Small Business Emergency Payment of up to $5,000 in hardship funds.” Mallough says. “We are pushing for that in the form of a grant or a forgivable loan.”
The province has yet to announce any such relief but Mallough says CFIB will be releasing some data on Wednesday to back up the need for the funds.
“Preliminary data shows there is extremely strong support for a program like that. We know that as a direct result of COVID-19, 30% of businesses are fully closed and 51% have had to modify their operations. That’s 81% of businesses not operating as usual.”
We reached out to the Fenelon Falls Chamber of Commerce but have not heard back.
