A unique Okotoks restaurant in the heart of Olde Towne is closing its doors next month.
Bistro 1882 has announced to its customers the time has come to move on to the next adventure, prompting the restaurant's closure at the end of February.
Located in the historic Sheep River Post Office, the eatery does one seating per table, per night, offering patrons a fine, French dining experience. On days when time allows, the restaurant also serves lunch.
"We never rush anyone," said proprietor Ed Povhe, who owns the bistro with his wife Marcella. "We always say, this is how you’re supposed to eat."
The couple purchased the building 12 years ago following a move from Saskatoon, and like many husband-and-wife teams before them, eventually renovated and moved into the upstairs of the property. According to Ed, the building has housed a variety of restaurants for at least 40 years.
Despite selling the restaurant to the Povhes, the previous owner wanted to stay as part of the team, Ed said. So, he continued on as the bistro's head chef for three years. When it came time for him to move on, the couple was presented with a challenge.
"We tried someone else for a chef and that didn’t work out," Ed recalled. "My wife, she’d always been filling in for us when the other guy was here and she knew how to do all the prep. And then she said, 'You know, I want to try this.'"
Marcella had a knack for crafting all of the appetizers, entrees and desserts, her husband said. And so with her in the back cooking up a storm and he in the front as the host, busboy and waiter, they made a pretty good team.
"There’s no learning it and she has it," Ed said of his wife. "She’s been great for nine years, it’s just been the two of us."
The two pride themselves on being different, offering a culinary experience like no other, especially in Okotoks. But, Ed recognizes that isn't realistic for every business owner.
"There’s no time between appetizers and entrées – as soon as you’re done your appetizer, your entrée is there, as soon as your done your entrée, your dessert is there – you have to crank through, again, I can understand because of the economics," he said.
"A lot of these restaurants, they’re renting very high, food costs have just gone astronomical in the last three or four years and it’s a symptom of why there’s less and less people like us that do this anymore."
While the rising cost of ingredients isn't exactly helping the Povhes, it isn't why they've decided to shut the doors.
"It’s not the reason we closed, but it’s the reason I can’t go out and just continue what we’ve done," said Ed. "It’s impossible for me to replace Marcella and pay what I feel is a living wage."
The closing of Bistro 1882 doesn't mean Okotokians will never dine in the historic building again, as Ed said there are a number of parties interested in renting the building, though he couldn't provide details on their culinary plans.
Ed said the current state of the restaurant industry and, really, every industry is difficult – things costing more and people earning less.
"It’s sad for Okotoks, Alberta, Canada that we’re such a unique restaurant – when I was growing up every restaurant was like us – you didn’t get rushed, everyone in the place made money," he said.
In their new adventure, Ed said he plans to find other work, while Marcella takes time for a well-deserved rest.
