Community Mourns the Closing of Windsor’s Lumberjack Restaurant

Local patrons of a beloved Windsor eatery that has been around for years express their disappointment at its recent closure.

A notice affixed to the door of the closed Lumberjack Restaurant informs that the landlord has ended its lease effective Thursday due to unpaid rent.

Lumberjack regulars Cliff Danby and Kristen Siapas were part of a volunteer group with Cogeco TV who often visited the restaurant after hockey games and city council meetings.

Siapas mentioned it’s disheartening to see the restaurant close because it “had that feeling of community built right into it.”

“It was just the nicest people,” she said.

“Even when we were going there 20 years ago, it was a place that felt like it had been in the community for a really long time. And you could tell it was just one of those places that had such a long history.”

‘Very unfortunate’

The landlord has taken control of the property and is allowing tenants five days to retrieve any belongings left inside, according to the notice.

The notice does not specify how much rent is owed or how long was left on the lease.

When contacted by CBC, the owners declined an interview, while attempts to reach the landlord were unsuccessful.

Cliff Danby, who worked alongside Siapas on the Cogeco crew, expressed his disappointment but wasn’t shocked by the restaurant’s closing given current challenges in the hospitality industry.

Crew members from Cogeco TV dine at the Lumberjack circa 2008. (Submitted by Kristen Siapas)

The Lumberjack catered mainly to older customers, many living on fixed incomes, and attempts to raise prices may have pushed them away.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Danby said.

“You know, the owners are really good people. The past owners are really good people. And I have no doubt that everybody tried everything in their power to keep it going. It’s just unfortunate that something at some point has to give.”

Both Danby and Siapas reflect on how significant Lumberjack became for their families.

Danby’s family celebrated his mother’s 80th birthday there and hosted several anniversary dinners at this spot.

His daughter also got her first job as a bus person at Lumberjack, he shared.

‘The salad bar was the thing’

Siapas started bringing her baby daughter along to hang out with everyone from TV crew there, she explained.

Later on, she would take her kids for hearty breakfasts filled with pancakes and eggs.

“And then there’s also ‘the salad bar – that was what mattered most,’” she reminisced.
“It wasn’t for me; my husband loved it.. He couldn’t get enough of ‘Lumberjack’s salad bar.’.. It was truly a great spread! These days it’s hard finding a decent salad bar.”

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