by PAUL RAYNER

Despite being a business success, or in part perhaps due to it, the Silver Saddle Grill is presently looking for a new leasee.

Darcia Wright, who has been operating the Minto restaurant for three and a half years, has served notice she will be leaving at the end of August. The reason for leaving is simply the long-term lack of assistance.

“I don’t want to go,” Wright explained, “but I have no staff. I figure that in the last 3 ½ years I’ve maybe had 35-40 days off. I can’t do it anymore.”

Wright said there’s her and six other people, but only one is full time. For the last year and a half, she has been the full time cook, which is getting to the point of being untenable.

“We have a huge clientele and I can’t do all of the cooking and prep work.”

The number one need was another cook who was willing to learn the ropes. However, there was also a need for waitresses who could handle odd hours.

“I need people who can work weekends and evenings. The people I have hold two or three other jobs. No one is applying for the jobs, or if they are, they can’t work odd hours. Some are students going back to school. It has been really hard.”

She added that the restaurant is licensed, so it needs workers over 18. Open six days a week, the Silver Saddle also is open for other events. Wright said at times it can be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Business is not strictly from Minto either.

“You have to be committed,” she stated, “A lot of people think waitressing is easy, but it’s hard. This is not a country café. We draw from Winnipeg; we get bus tours. This isn’t just burgers and fries.”

Wright said the staffing level would be dropping as the end of summer nears. Even if a sudden improvement in the situation were to occur, she feels she cannot hang on. It would take eight months in her estimation to get new staff ready for her to be comfortable in taking a few hours off, let alone an actual holiday.

“I don’t think I have another year in me.”

She said her clients have shown regret at her decision, but understand the situation. It is a good business, obvious from the strains. She hopes someone can be found.

“I really hope the board finds someone. It is a really good business. I hope the customers support them as much as they did me. You have to be optimistic.”

The restaurant board itself is also optimistic. President Bill Campbell said they received Wright’s letter, expressed appreciation for her efforts, and were assured she would not reconsider. From there they did advertising for a new leasee across the province and Western Canada, even with culinary schools. With the deadline passing at the end of last month, they are in a position to start the practical process.

“We’ve had numerous applications,” Campbell stated, “We would like to start the interview process next week and we will be seeing how that process goes.”

They would like to complete the interviews as soon as possible, but with some applicants presently in the restaurant trade, it may take some juggling to accommodate them.

He admitted that it was a demanding position with long hours and a lot of work and a leasee may well not be making a “lifetime commitment”. The staffing issue is a concern, but Campbell said the Silver Saddle might not be in a unique situation.

“Certainly it is part of every business in the area. It is an ongoing concern everywhere. No doubt the restaurants in Boissevain have the same thing. We’re quite confident we can address this, that we can do a few things to address it.”

If nothing else, it indicates success.

“Staffing would not be an issue if nobody came,” Campbell explained, “If it was not successful, popular and demanding it would be a non-issue. Sometimes success can be our worst enemy, but it is a good problem to have.”

The president explained they hoped to have someone in place and ready to go by the time Wright leaves, but there may be some closure due to logistics. They hope for a smooth, orderly transition, as the Silver Saddle is an important part of Minto.

“It is paramount to keep it going. It is one of the things that keeps the community together. It is a meeting place, a place where a lot of functions are held. It is one of the pieces that makes the community function and moving ahead.”