MONTREAL --
When Premier Francois Legault first closed restaurants in the spring, Pizzeria Geppetto partner and operator Yann Charbonney felt it would be for longer than the government anticipated. When the province shut down dining rooms again last fall for yet another 28 days, he was incredulous.
"It's a joke. It's stupid... they should've just been courageous and closed for the season (winter)," Charbonney said.
That October, he started making plans.
Charbonney now sells pasta sauces, salad dressings and wine as well as pre-made, frozen Geppetto pizzas from his restaurant in Rosemont. He is also changing the kitchen into a "factory kitchen" to produce more pizzas so he can sell them to grocery stores. He knew that re-invention was necessary. In 2020 his restaurant only made 60 per cent of their average year's gross sales.