Corbella: Death of another iconic restaurant a sign of bad times in Calgary

Another iconic downtown Calgary restaurant is closing its doors and in so doing is opening a wider window into understanding just how tough things are for many small businesses in the city’s downtown.

On Friday night, Catch & the Oyster Bar served its last dreamy bowl of New England clam chowder and its last plate of wonton-crusted tempura prawns. For an establishment that was voted Canada’s best overall restaurant in 2010, it’s a big fall from the heady days of tough-to-get reservations and waiting lists.

Even on its final day, the oyster bar, attached to the Hyatt Regency hotel on Stephen Avenue Mall, is less than half full and the bar seats are almost empty.

John Drinkwalter is sitting on one of the mostly empty bar stools to drink a frothing glass of Tokyo Drift, a craft IPA made in Calgary. Read more…