Wood Buffalo is losing some local eateries, and some residents are nostalgic about the closings. McRay’s Classic Cafe and Gino’s Pub will be closed, and a liquidation sale will be held. Owner of the eateries Jennifer Eastwood told the media “The whole reason why we’re closing is because we can’t come to terms on a lease.” When the current lease for the properties expired on August 31, 2013 the tenancy moved to a month to month basis. The owner of the buildings, Pom Cha, has been unable to come to an agreement on a long term lease with Eastwood. In 2013 when the old lease expired Cha presented Eastwood with a now lease that included a rental amount that was double the previous rent charged, Eastwood would also have to agree to take responsibility for all maintenance costs to the properties, and invest a minimum of $350,000 in renovations and refurbishments.

The closing of the local eateries in Wood Buffalo has many long time customers in the area upset. Eastwood explained that she had tried to keep McRay’s Classic Cafe and Gino’s Pub open but that is no longer a possibility. Eastwood said “We’re interested in refurbishing the inside, not the outside. Because we haven’t been able to come to terms, we can’t invest, and we can’t sell, so we’ve decided to leave. My heart is broken. This is my identity. This is my whole life.” With the closing or McRay’s 45 people will be out of a job, and the community will have fewer places to eat or relax.