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Critic of vaccine passports sells Vernon restaurant, looking forward to time with grandkids

Midtown sold in just 6 days

A downtown Vernon restaurant owner and outspoken critic of vaccine passports wants to clear the air after six years in business.

Kelly Lacroix of Midtown Bistro says she had multiple offers within hours of listing the business for sale.

On Friday, she said she has a sale pending and is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.

The restaurant had been listed only a few days earlier, for $59,900.

Lacroix drew attention last year for an interview with Rebel News and social media posts that railed against provincial health mandates.

Lacroix says the stress of the rapidly changing business situation took its toll.

"We got knocked down so many times, but you pick yourself up," she said.

"It always seemed that changes would come on a Friday afternoon, right after you've planned your schedule and your menu and budget ... people don't realize how much is involved in changing everything. It's exhausting.

"I was lucky to make some decisions at the right time, going family style, delivery ... we've pivoted so many times."

Lacroix says she never thought vaccine passports would last this long, and while she did initially resist, she was forced to comply after preparing a business plan she thought would see her through by going to counter service for liquor, only to find out at the last minute the loophole had been closed.

"it's just really hard to discriminate," she said. "There is so much division in the world right now ... I don't think passports are working, other than killing small businesses."

She still feels the requirements on licensed restaurants are unfair compared to takeout eateries.

"I know how clean I am, how many times I sanitize everything. You can't tell me I am any more of a danger."

But, Lacroix isn't dwelling on the past. She says she's excited to become mortgage free and to spend time with her four grandchildren, whom she says she didn't get to see very much due to the rigorous demands of the restaurant business.

"But, owning a restaurant was always my dream. I rocked that dream ... it's just not my dream anymore."

Lacroix says the pending buyer is expected to keep the name and staff, and she and her husband have offered to stay on for a couple of weeks to ease the transition.

"It's been a crazy time. I just sold my restaurant and my house in six days," she said.

On a final note, Lacroix said she wanted to clear up comments previously attributed to her about Nazism in regard to pandemic policy. She said she never referred to the Nazis, but did note that her mother in law had escaped communism in Ukraine.



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