Eat and help some people out.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/...709/story.html
Old-fashioned soda shop faces uncertain future
Black Diamond eatery lost business due to flood detours
By Annalise Klingbeil, Calgary Herald November 19, 2013
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Old-fashioned soda shop faces uncertain future
Marv Garriott, owner of Marv’s Classic Soda Shop in Black Diamond, says unless business picks up in the next few months, he may be forced to close the tourist attraction.
Photograph by: Dean Bicknell , Calgary Herald
Marv Garriott stayed up all night Monday, trying to figure out a way to keep his authentic 1950s soda shop and diner in Black Diamond open.
While the restaurant was not directly affected by the June floods, a large portion of Highway 22 connecting Turner Valley and Black Diamond was washed out in the flood, keeping visitors from Marv’s Classic Soda Shop for weeks.
“We lost pretty much all of that traffic that would travel through here normally,” Garriott said.
Business at the tourist destination — home to what Garriott believes is the only operating antique soda fountain in Canada — was down 70 per cent in July compared to July 2012, and down 40 per cent in August. Even before the flood, business was slower than previous years.
Now, bills are piling up and 68-year-old Garriott is worried he will have to close the shop, which has been a fixture in the town 40 kilometres south of Calgary for years.
On Monday night, Garriott researched realtors online.
“(Selling) it would be a very, very last resort for me. I’ve put my heart and soul into this place,” he said.
For 13 years, the shop has served ice cream, sweets and homemade burgers and fries, sourced from local farms, to customers from around the world.
Located on main street, the shop indulges Garriott’s love of the 1950s. From the jukebox to the authentic photos and other nostalgic memorabilia, it serves as a walk down memory lane for visitors.
“Our business is a unique business and probably one of a kind in the country,” Garriott said.
While business typically slows down in winter — July and August are Garriott’s two busiest months — Garriott believes an influx of tourists in the coming months could keep him from closing the doors.
“It won’t take a lot to turn around, we just need some travelling on the weekends out here,” he said.
If not, like the memorabilia it houses, the shop will become a thing of the past, something Garriott desperately hopes won’t happen.
“This is home for me. Everything that I care about in my life is in here,” he said.
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I've Known Marv for almost 20 years, its tough to see him in this position, especially after he just recovered from a heart operation that almost killed him earlier this year.
All of Black Diamond and Turner Valley is hurting right now, if you are looking for a day trip and some good food, the area could use some economic help. There is also a great Buffet at the Diamond Valley, pizza at Grillos and Turner Valley Inn. I also visit the barber shop in BD, it's owner also echos the post flood business loss, in the 70% range. The bridge being out on highway 22 and the loss of the campground really hurt the business district.
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Originally Posted by killramos
