Will ailing eateries get an assist from NHL all-star weekend?

'Anything is helpful' after pandemic slump, industry advocate says

- By Josh Rubin

Amsterdam Brewhouse is expecting a full house during the NHL all-star weekend.

During the lean years of the pandemic, the idea of a full house is something Trevor Brodie wondered if he’d ever see again.

This week, says the general manager of lakeside brew pub Amsterdam Brewhouse, he’s expecting big crowds almost every night. And there’s no mistaking the reason why: The NHL All-Star Game is in town, showcasing top players, including the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews.

For an industry still digging out from under two years of on-and-off lockdowns and capacity restrictions, the game — and other associated events in the downtown core — are a welcome bit of relief.

“It’s a game of inches in this industry. So every inch we get in our direction is helpful. We went through several years of people being afraid to go out in public,” said Brodie. “Having it in Toronto is great. It’s absolutely huge for any restaurant in the area, and it’s going to have the hotels at 100 per cent.”

It’s a time when more than half of restaurants are struggling to break even, and still have loads of debt which piled up during the pandemic, says Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada. While a busy week won’t undo all the damage, it’s a pleasant change of pace.

Spending estimates for event are mixed