Dn the best scenario, the franchisee, Félix-Antoine Thibault, would like his restaurant to be in operation in October.
“We make a 180 degree turn,” explains Mr. Thibault. We’re going to hit a big blow with them, especially downtown. People can come for brunch and go shopping afterwards. In the morning, we will be a great asset for the city center. “
“We still believe in our location,” he continues. We know it’s difficult, people are having difficulty getting through the works. But when it is done, it will be the jack pot. »
Félix-Antoine Thibault, who owned 25% of Gros Luxe, says his new restaurant will offer a lot of diversity. “There are veg and vegan. There is also a small Keto menu. There is everything: a big smoothie bar, milkshakes, ”he describes, adding that the banner has been in operation since 1995.
The other part of the Sherbrooke Gros Luxe franchise belonged to the La Bouffe Group. For L’Œufrier, a brand belonging to this group, the percentages will remain the same.
Opening a restaurant in the midst of a global pandemic is a great challenge for an entrepreneur. “We are not so stressed. The kitchen is already there, the decor will change. At Gros Luxe, the clientele is there. Friends who have lunch restaurants say they are full every morning. The Sherbrooke clientele is incredible: they value the local. The Big Luxe was full from Wednesday to Sunday, I don’t see why there would be no one left overnight, ”said the restaurateur.
The Big Luxury
The closure of the restaurant L’Gros Luxe in Sherbrooke is not done in the most complete transparency, says the former franchisee. According to Félix-Antoine Thibault, COVID-19 did not kill his old restaurant. A discord between the franchisor and the franchisee would be at the origin of the closure of the business.
The restaurateur believes that the message posted by the franchisee was not entirely true. “From Wednesday to Sunday, I was full every night. During COVID, the take-out was going very well, ”he says.
« [Ce qu’il est écrit sur Facebook] is not 100% false, agrees Mr. Thibault. But the franchisor protects the image of the brand. I find COVID to be the easy excuse right now, especially for restaurateurs. At Gros Luxe, we managed to turn around quite quickly. We were able to get out despite everything. That’s what I love about being an entrepreneur: moving mountains. The reason for the closure is not that which is posted on Facebook, ”expresses Mr. Thibault, ensuring however not to be in dispute with anyone.
What is the reason for the closure? “I think COVID has had its effect, but not on the Sherbrooke franchise. I think the effect was felt at the head office. The closure of the Sherbrooke restaurant is caused by a dispute between Sherbrooke shareholders and the parent company. The situation is complex, ”he replies.
Staff were therefore notified of the situation on Saturday. “Every employee is a member of my family. The whole team was there for everyone. I find it boring to cut it stiff like that, ”laments the restaurateur.
But technically, employees don’t lose their jobs. “We keep the same company number. But we leave them the choice to stay or to leave. When we hired them, we sold them the concept of Big Luxury. We understand that the employees who work at the bar wanted an evening atmosphere and this is very normal. This is what we find boring in history, we did not leave enough time [aux employés]. It happened in three days. Our accountants check what is best for them. We do not let them down, ”summarizes Mr. Thibault.
It was not possible to reach the owner of the banner, Alex Bastide, on Wednesday afternoon.
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