Lease Termination Forces Calgary’s Angel’s Café to Close Unexpectedly
Calgary’s Angel’s Café, a cherished local business for nearly three decades, faces sudden closure due to a lease termination. The city has ordered the café to vacate its premises within 30 days to facilitate significant water main construction along the Bearspaw South feeder main. This unexpected decision has left the café’s owner, Cathy Jacobs, in shock.
Lease Termination Shocks Angel’s Café Owner
Jacobs expressed her disbelief, stating, “We’re just in so much shock.” The café recently signed a new five-year lease, effective January, intended to be the final term of a longer 15-year agreement on city-owned land. Now, Jacobs must dismantle the entire building in a short timeframe.
Community Impact and Business Disruption
Angel’s Café must complete its move within the next two weeks. This rapid eviction poses a challenge for Jacobs and her staff, who are devastated by the loss. The café had planned various community events for the upcoming months, which now hang in uncertainty.
- Closure Deadline: 30 days
- Lease Duration: Newly signed five-year lease beginning January
- Years of Operation: Nearly 30 years
- Community Events: Previously scheduled, now uncertain
When Jacobs inquired about the possibility of reopening after construction, the city indicated that restoration of the café’s lease is not an option. A spokesperson for the City of Calgary stated that they were in communication with the café as soon as the project’s implications were understood.
City Infrastructure Improvement Efforts
The city is currently evaluating the full impact of the water main construction, which is part of a broader initiative to replace the problematic feeder main. Earlier this week, the city accelerated the project timeline, aiming for completion by December. This urgency follows two major breaks in the pipe within a two-year period, highlighting the infrastructure’s instability.
As the city continues its infrastructure enhancements, the future of Angel’s Café remains uncertain. Jacobs described her deep connection to the community and her passion for the service industry, saying, “This has been my dream.”
