The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed a popular and unique pub in Orillia.
Owners of The Brownstone on Mississaga Street have announced the closure of the business, but they’re not throwing in the towel completely.
A post on the pub’s Facebook page reads, in part, “After some lengthy discussion, and the realization that an establishment like ours can't run safely for many more months to come, we have decided to give up our space in Orillia, minimize our expenses and start to plan how we can return when we can spend time together again.”
Owner Michael Somerville told OrilliaMatters this isn’t the first challenge the business has faced.
“The Brownstone has always gone through pretty drastic changes over the 10 years, from renovations to more esthetic changes,” he said. “I look at this as one of those chapters in the book.”
The downtown pub has been closed since March 2020, just after the pandemic was declared. Unlike some similar businesses, it wasn’t feasible to reopen The Brownstone with restrictions that were in place.
“It was a public sphere, a gathering place,” Somerville said of the small space. “It didn’t make sense to try to fit a square peg in a round hole.”
The decision to close was made because “the outlook wasn’t great, and to pay rent on a space that you can’t monetize in any way is a tall order,” he said.
Many people have expressed support as well as disappointment at the news of the closure. Some thanked the owners for their community support, while others lamented the loss of the venue that hosted numerous events and musical acts over the years.
Somerville understands why people have reacted strongly to the news, and he said it’s those people who made The Brownstone the success it was.
“The true magic of a space like that isn’t the walls or the decor; it’s the people who were in that space — the community,” he said. “Our deepest thanks to everyone who made The Brownstone what it was over the years.”
Everything has been boxed and is in storage, ready for the owners to open “a turnkey Brownstone if we can,” Somerville said.
“We’re in a wait-and-see mode. No one knows what the future holds,” he said.
