There have been a lot of people eating out on Cortes Island this summer and most of them are tourists or summer residents.
Carly from the Co-op Bakery and Deli, in Mansons Landing, was just coming off a long shift when CKTZ News caught up with her. She was too tired to talk, too tired to even think — other than to agree that it was very busy.
Summertime red cod taco, basil citrus salsa and linnaea green. Photo courtesy the Toki Bap Cafe.
Sujon from the Toki Bap Cafe, also in Mansons Landing, confirmed that they have seen a rise in business this summer.
“Yes, Tourism is back," Sujon wrote in an email. "The boating community, the local holiday makers and summer residents are all flocking to Cortes. However, Toki Bap continues with Fridays only service and is swarmed. The biggest challenge is finding helpers/staff. The wages are better than last year but everyone on the island is already working.“
The Floathouse Restaurant has seen notable customer numbers over the last few weeks.
“Canada Day was amazing. Then there was a little bit of a lull after that, where we were steady but not crazy-busy like we are now,” said Carol Pierce from the Floathouse Restaurant, in the Gorge Harbour Marina. “Mid-July was when we started being at capacity in the evenings. Lunches: same thing, we are busy from 12:00 right on. We are sooo busy right now. We are at capacity for dinner most every evening, we’re booking about two days ahead for dinner.”
She still sees quite a few familiar faces, but said the majority of her customers are campers or boaters.
The Sunflower Food Truck in full swing. Photo courtesy of Carie Taylor.
The Sunflower Food Truck, also in the marina, reopened the first week in May, but Carie Taylor describes business as "quiet" up until July 1. There were good days when she turned a profit, but, more often, the business operated at a loss.
The tourists began to show up on July 1.
“They came, filled up the island and business first doubled on July 1 and then tripled,” said Taylor.
The Sunflower opened last fall and this is its first summer on Cortes Island. Taylor was just getting used to ordering for twice the volume and scheduling staff, when sales tripled.
“We’re just learning to adjust. We’re not overwhelmed; are able to keep up — it is just taking time to get used to it,” she explained.
There are still a lot of locals coming, but she believes about 70 per cent of her sales are to tourists that come to the resort.
“People keep asking why we are going to close in September and why we are not open all year round,” added Taylor. “I know a lot of people really do not like the tourist season, but without the tourists we couldn’t be open, the business is barely making money. So I am really grateful for the tourists, even though the island changes and becomes really different.”