Chez Angela bids adieu to The Secret Garden Café

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This article was published 09/03/2024 (914 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After about 26 months of operation, Chez Angela Bakery & Café has decided to bid farewell to its satellite location in The Green Spot at 1451 Rosser Ave. East.

The Secret Garden Café By Chez Angela, though retaining its name, will now be managed by Green Spot Home and Garden. It is slated to reopen on Monday after temporarily closing its doors last December.

Chez Angela general manager James Chambers said despite its best efforts, including experimenting with menus and striving to create a positive atmosphere, challenges hindered the bakery’s ability to thrive as it had hoped.

“This decision was not made lightly, as the café holds a special place in our journey. Largely what we had to overcome was a lot less foot traffic than what we have downtown,” Chambers told the Sun. “Our growth downtown, expansion, and the positive reception from customers led us to prioritize our downtown location.”

He also acknowledged labour challenges faced at The Secret Garden Café, stating that the struggle was not in hiring staff but in maintaining a team atmosphere and employee support. The decision to focus on the downtown location, he said, stemmed from the need to ensure consistent customer service and support for their staff.

Chez Angela’s downtown operations have experienced growth and expansion, with a recent increase in café size and in-house event-hosting capabilities. Chambers expressed enthusiasm for the positive impact of their downtown business, emphasizing the focus on local ingredients and job creation within the community.

Green Spot Home and Garden owner Bernie Whetter commended Chez Angela for offering quality services for customers over the years.

The change, he said, was influenced by a combination of factors, including a decline in customer traffic and labour shortages.

“We’re excited to bring a new experience to The Secret Garden and our goal is not just profitability, but to enhance the overall shopping experience for our customers,” Whetter told the Sun. “The strategy includes creating a more accessible menu, offering flexibility for both adults and children and enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers.”

Green Spot Home and Garden plans to offer a standard café-style menu, featuring local products, including those from Forbidden Flavours, Tendercuts Meat & Deli and Kuipers Bakery.

On slower days, Whetter said, “the dedicated staff being Garden Spot’s employees would be assigned to other tasks, ensuring a constant presence at the café. This addresses the main challenge, a labour issue, which is not Chez Angela’s fault but a broader economic reality of tough labour conditions.”

A person has been hired, he said, and brings with him prior café management experience, having run one before. “His keen interest led him to approach us, initiating in-depth discussions, and we anticipate his start.”

While the cafe’s official opening is set for next week, Whetter encouraged customers to stay tuned for exciting announcements through their social media channels. Despite challenges caused by recent snow days, he said “Green Spot Home and Garden is working diligently to bring a renewed experience to The Secret Garden Café.”

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