POPULAR Glenwood eatery, Parc café has closed their doors after eight years in the area. Parc opened on May 8, 2013, along Esther Roberts Road where it quickly became a well-known breakfast spot.
The community flocked to the café to sample their signature Eggs Benedict and other breakfast and lunch offerings.
It was a sad goodbye, said Brett Gentles who co-owns the café with sister, Lara Gentles, as they moved the café to the Gillitts Centre in the upper highway area where they will open their doors when regulations allow.
“Our lease came to an end and the space we were in wasn’t really big enough. We wanted to open for trading at night but felt a bit isolated as we were not located on a main road. We also want to expand out offering and the kitchen we had was too small. After eight years it felt like it was right time to move,” he said.
Increasing crime rates and a decline in the hospitality industry under Covid-19 regulations also contributed to the move, said Gentles.
“During the Covid-19 lockdown we’ve seen a decline in the maintenance of the area and an increase in homeless people. Crime has gone up,” he added.
Yet, for Gentles, the heart of Glenwood remains in the sense of community- unmatched anywhere else.
“The community in Glenwood is amazing. The connections we made with people is what we will miss the most. For some Parc was a place of joy, while some came here to share their grief. We tried to offer something a little bit different and it was a great place to get our foot in the door. People are very community-minded in Glenwood and we do miss the support and the people we met,” he added.
Realising the dream
Gentles, realised his dream to be a chef while studying another course. He trained as a chef in 2004 at Christina Martin School of Food and Wine.
“Halfway through my degree I decided what I wanted to do. I cooked my parents a six course meal to try and convince them to let me leave my degree, which they didn’t. I studied at UKZN from 2001-2003,” he said.
He worked in the hospitality industry for a few years before opening Parc café.
“Our most popular dish was egg benedict, which is traditionally poached egg with ham and hollandaise sauce. We used sourdough bread from the bakery next door and offered bacon, spinach, mushrooms or salmon as variations. We added capers to the dish to cut the richness of hollandaise sauce- I find it balances the dish,” he said.
Gentles grows fresh produce for the café at his family’s Everton home.
“We’ve always been seasonal and locally focused in our food,” said Gentles.
The thriving business quickly adapted to Covid-19 restrictions, introducing food for delivery.
“Under Covid-19, we had to change our business model. We introduced frozen food as we saw that people have less disposable income and going to a restaurant is a luxury. Covid-19 changed so much and continues to change. The hospitality industry has always been an unpredictable industry but now more than ever. It’s taught us to pivot and change our business model,” he said.
While the café will be sorely missed in Glenwood, the good news is that locals can still order their favourite eggs benedict for delivery on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
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