MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following the fire that gutted La Peron Visskerm and Butcher's Grill House in October last year, La Peron's owners have recently been informed by Transnet Property that its lease agreement would not be renewed.
One of the restaurant's owners, Dietlof Henn, told Mossel Bay Advertiser his co-owners and their staff are devastated by the news, and called it the end of an era.
The old Mossel Bay Train Station was converted into La Peron Visskerm and Butcher's Grill House 10 years ago. It is located near the Mossel Bay Port, for which Transnet Property is responsible.
The owners learnt of the lease agreement ending on 10 February.
Henn had previously told the Advertiser that they had made several attempts to get into contact with Transnet Property regarding the clean-up processes at the site of the fire, but claimed they had received little to no response.
According to him, they had been informed that Transnet Property would take on the responsibility of the clean-up processes, including taking down the building's roof, which had significantly been destroyed by the blaze.
This delay had prevented the owners from going forward with their original plans to rebuild and eventually reopen the restaurant.
This also impacted the restaurant's employees, who were keen to return to their jobs one day soon.
Henn had added that the restaurant's insurance company had been ready to rebuild in November, a month after the fire occurred.
Now, because of the lease agreement ending without a renewal option, these plans have been dashed.
"The staff are all struggling. There is not much work available in Mossel Bay, especially now after the season. There are about 100 people who were dependent on the staff's income. Many of these were children," says Henn.
He and his co-owners are currently searching for an alternative location, but nothing has become available yet.
They told the Advertiser they would continue with their search, as they want to keep the restaurant's legacy going.
Mossel Bay Advertiser has sent questions to Transnet Property, but had not received a response by the time of going to press.
Dietlof Henn and Dean van der Walt, co-owners of La Peron and Butcher's Grill House. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
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*This article has been amended. It previously stated that the Transnet National Port of Authority is responsible for La Peron Visskerm and Butcher's Grill House. However, Transnet Property is the responsible entity.
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