As the cost of operating an independently-owned business in Alberta continues to rise, many local favourites have been struggling to survive. Earlier this week, Calgary’s Home and Away announced its plans to close the doors on its 17th Ave location following a final weekend bash at the end of the month.
In addition to a planned road closure that would obstruct its patio for the entirety of the summer, Home and Away has stated that its property taxes have tripled in the last three years. Despite efforts to overcome the many hurdles it’s facing, the 170-seat restaurant has determined that continuing on under these circumstances would be too difficult.
While it will likely take some time to get used to the idea of the popular games and sports bar existing elsewhere, Home and Away has said that they are currently working on finding a new and improved location with appropriate property taxes by the time the North American sports season recommences this fall.
To commemorate the four years during which Calgarians congregated at Home and Away for monumental moments like Flames and Blue Jays playoff runs, Jerome Iginla’s retirement, and the recent championship run from the Toronto Raptors, the beloved Beltline sports bar has extended an open invite for patrons to partake in its weekend-long farewell from June 28 to June 30.
