Rich Uncle Tavern closes after six-year run in Kitchener core
Owners to refocus efforts on other ventures including second location of Stockyards Beverage Company in St. Jacob’s
Kitchener has lost a relative.
The Rich Uncle Tavern has closed after a six-year run as an eatery and music venue at 45 King St. W., across the street from TheMuseum in the city’s core.
The restaurant, which featured upscale pub food and a generous selection of beers, served its last customers April 27.
“It has been a challenge over the years because of COVID,” said Ryan Lloyd-Craig, co-owner of the Ignite Group of Brands, which ran the establishment.
“The entire demographic of downtown Kitchener has kind of changed post-COVID. Having most of the tech (sector) not working or working from home affected the hours we could operate.
“It was a four-day week restaurant, and we can’t survive off that with fixed rent rates and insurance and labour costs, so we made the decision to shut it down and refocus our efforts on our other businesses.”
One staff member from The Rich Uncle Tavern left to work at another restaurant while the other five found roles at properties associated with the Ignite Group of Brands, such as the Crowsfoot in Conestogo, the Graffiti Market and the Stockyards Beverage Company in Kitchener, Lloyd-Craig said.
The Rich Uncle Tavern replaced The Berlin, a fine dining restaurant, in 2018.
The venue took its name from Joseph Winterhalt, a local cigar manufacturer in Kitchener who created the “Rich Uncle” line of cigars in the 1800s and sold them on the block where the restaurant was located.
Like many restaurants, The Rich Uncle Tavern was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic but, when customers weren’t permitted inside, the staff got creative by tapping the kegs and selling beer to patrons with empty jugs on a walkup basis.
Five years back, the restaurant was evacuated after a catering van caught fire behind the building and ignited the back stairs. No one was injured in the blaze.
But there were tons of good times too.
Countless happy customers enjoyed treats such as duck wings, Korean chicken and waffles, bangers and mash and a multitude of craft beers, among other things, in the exposed brick building with vintage decor.
Revelers also shared beverages and tapped a toe or two to local musical acts over the years.
The Ignite Group, however, isn’t slowing down.
The Stockyards Beverage Company has opened a second location in St. Jacob’s, across from the farmers’ market, with a much larger brewing facility and retail space, which is already open. A restaurant and 250-seat patio is also in the works for the space and is expected to open in November.