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Once popular, Surrey’s Kalmar restaurant is dark and the doors are chained shut

‘The restaurant industry is hard,’ says Newton BIA’s Aguirre, who runs Old Surrey Restaurant
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Outside the closed Kalmar restaurant in Newton on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 8076 King George Blvd. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

The doors of Surrey’s Kalmar Restaurant are chained shut, the lights turned off, tables set but empty, and no sign of life inside.

The long-established eatery has closed, but it’s not clear exactly when, why or whether it’s permanent.

Kalmar was once a popular place to eat in Newton, in the 8000-block of King George Boulevard.

At around noon Thursday (April 20), a sign on the door said a Monday-morning men’s prayer breakfast has moved to Fresgo Inn, in Whalley.

Nearby, a man sat on the ground near a shopping cart full of stuff. “It’s been closed for about a week,” he said.

Open for breakfast and lunch only in recent times, Kalmar served pancakes, eggs, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and more.

“The restaurant industry is hard!” exclaimed Newton BIA executive director Philip Aguirre, who operates Old Surrey Restaurant eight blocks south, on 72 Avenue.

“A free-standing building like the Kalmar location has a massive lease and property tax bill. Profit margins are tight and competition is everywhere. You better be good at what you do and even then it might not be enough.”

Aguirre added: “When city hall continues to increase taxes by 12.5 per cent, I can foresee the financial pressure having a negative impact on businesses. The zoning of that location was probably increased to a higher FSR (floor space ratio). As a result the property tax bill most likely jumped substantially.”

• STORY/VIDEO from 2020: Surrey’s Fresgo Inn chef Walter Wolff keeps cooking comfort food after 40 years in business.

On Facebook Thursday, the “We Grew Up in Surrey So We Remember” page was flooded with memories of Kalmar after someone posted about the restaurant closure.

“That place was thee best under original owners John and Helen. It has NEVER been as good since then and I’m actually surprised it stayed open this long,” one person wrote.

“I went went a couple of times long time ago and never understood the hype,” another posted. “I’m not surprised at all it has closed its doors. Now if Fresgos closes I’ll be upset!”

Wrote another person: “So sad, my family basically grew up going to the Kalmar weekly, lot of memories — the old Kalmar too, beside Pay ‘N’ Save gas, good times.”

• READ ALSO THIS LETTER: I’ll never forget my first job at Surrey’s famous Fresgo Inn.



tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com

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Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news stories for the Surrey Now-Leader, where I've worked for more than half of my 30-plus years in the newspaper business.
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