Family pizza night in Minden is going on an enforced sabbatical after the community’s lone pizzeria last week announced it would be temporarily closing its doors.
Godfathers Pizza announced via social media that, due to staffing shortages, it was closing July 29. As of press time, the restaurant remains closed with no indication of when it will be reopening.
“We are currently hiring for all positions in the hopes to be operating as usual in the near future. If you are looking for employment, please feel free to visit our website for job postings, or call us,” a post on Facebook reads.
The business has been advertising for new staff on its social media channels for months. Located in Heritage Plaza along Hwy. 35, Godfathers Pizza has been a staple of the Minden community for more than 20 years.
It’s just the latest local business to fall victim to a growing labour shortage problem in the Highlands. Maple Avenue Tap and Grill was forced to reduce its hours last year, with owner Andy Oh continuously telling media in recent times how difficult it is to find, and keep, staff. The restaurant has since returned to its regular hours five-days per week, open from Tuesday through Saturday, though Oh has said he’d like to be open seven days if he had the staff to support it.
According to manager Kristy Goodearle, new business Rockcliffe Moore Falls also had trouble securing staff in the lead up to their opening in July.
Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development told CBC last week that there are more than 378,000 jobs currently available in Ontario, with three sectors leading the way when it comes to worker shortages: skilled trade, health care and retail/customer service.
