(Facebook/Dairy Queen Grill & Chill (700 - 100a St, Tisdale, SK) )

By Aaron Schulze

COVID-19 Closure

Tisdale Dairy Queen latest business to close doors due to COVID-19

Mar 25, 2020 | 3:08 PM

As businesses remain in the unknown stages of COVID-19, one operation in Tisdale is the latest to close its doors.

The Dairy Queen (DQ) in Tisdale announced as of Thursday, March 27, it will be closed without a set date to re-open. The restaurant previously laid off half its staff and only served customers via drive thru.

Greg McShannock, one of the co-owners of the Tisdale DQ, said business slowed down once sports and recreation activities were halted over a week prior, even before the Government of Saskatchewan declared a State of Emergency on March 18.

“The good news is people are tightening up, staying at home more, and prepping their own meals,” McShannock told northeastNOW. “Unfortunately, that leaves us in a spot where we don’t have that traffic. It seemed best to close the doors here for a while and we’ll see where this all goes.”

McShannock also works as the Town of Tisdale’s economic development officer. From conversations with other business owners in the town, he said the COVID-19 pandemic slowing business is another hardship on top of a slower holiday shopping season in November.

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

5h ago

Award Winner

Hawks netminder among SJHL weekly award winners

6h ago

strong reputation

North Battleford wins gold in provincial volleyball championship

6h ago

“I’m a little bit worried for the future of small-town businesses… what the landscape of our business community is going to look like depending on how far this goes,” he said. “It will take time for people to admit we’re normal again. Once we get back to that, I think people will realize when all these businesses were shut down and the unemployment that was caused.

“Our entire area; nothing is booming like it should be. We’ll see the buying patterns and how it shifts after, and I hope it does in a positive way. There’s an opportunity to spin this, but we’ll see how long it takes.”

As for financial support from the federal and provincial governments for individuals and businesses, McShannock mentioned how huge an ask it is for them to get it organized and out as quickly as they’re trying. He said the Tisdale DQ hasn’t investigated financial support yet.

“Once you close the doors – other than mortgages and your regular power and gas – a lot of your billing just stops,” he said. “You’re not buying groceries or paying out payroll. My concern was for my employees; I hope they’re able to get through [employment insurance] a little quicker. I can’t imagine the people working in unemployment centres.”

McShannock hopes the bright side of DQ’s closure is by potentially influencing other non-essential businesses in the community to temporarily close their doors for the safety of northeast residents and their employees.

–

aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow