Elgin Street restaurant closes after 18 years in Ottawa's Centretown neighbourhood

Ottawa's changing restaurant industry Hundreds lined up for a new Chick-Fil-A in Ottawa on Thursday, but it comes as other restaurants closed. CTV's Tyler Fleming reports.

St. Louis Bar and Grill has closed its doors on Elgin Street in Ottawa's Centretown neighbourhood, after serving customers for 18 years.

"It is with great sadness in our hearts that we announce after 18 years of business, we are closing our doors," says a note on the St. Louis Bar and Grill Instagram account, signed by the "St. Louis Elgin Family."

"We want to thank our amazing guests for all your love and support over the years."

A sign on the door of St. Louis Bar and Grill on Elgin Street says, "Permanently closed. Thanks for all the fun times."

CTV News Ottawa reached out to St. Louis Bar and Grill for comment on Wednesday but has not heard back.

St. Louis Bar and Grill was a key fixture on Elgin Street, with its large patio, and was a popular spot along Sens Mile for fans to watch Senators playoff games.

It's the latest long-time restaurant and business to close in the Centretown and ByWard Market area, including Blue Cactus on Jan. 1.

"2024 has been a very difficult year for restaurant operators," says Maximilien Roy, Restaurants Canada VP federal and Quebec. "It was the end of the CEBA (Canada emergency business account) loans back in January l, so a lot of people had to pay that back and there was some debt accumulated throughout the pandemic."

Roy also notes a sharp increase in food costs, along with inflation, while the food industry grapples with a Canada-wide labour shortage. Last year, bankruptcies spiked by 45 per cent.

"Restaurant operators are really struggling to find a balance between increasing their prices but, at the same time, offer meals at a price that consumers are willing to pay for," says Roy. "The biggest issue is the rising cost of food and now the uncertainty of what a tariff war with the U.S. could bring."

Steve's Music on Rideau Street, Café Dekcuf, Pure Kitchen, the Cupcake Lounge and Oz Kafe have all recently closed in the ByWard Market area.

Last July, Saslove's Meat Market announced it was closing after 70 years of business. The family-run market had operated in the ByWard Market since 1954 and wrapped up its operations at the end of September.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Tyler Fleming