Vernon anti-vaccine passport bistro owner puts business up for sale

A Vernon restaurant owner who defied the vaccine passport mandate has put her restaurant up for sale.

Midtown Bistro owner Kelly Lacroix told iNFOnews.ca she was selling her business because she didn't agree with asking people for vaccine passports.

"Checking passports is killing my soul," Lacroix said.

The restaurant, located in downtown Vernon on 30 Street, is now up for sale for $59,900.

"It's my baby and I want to give it to somebody that Bonnie (Henry) hasn't sucked the life out of," Lacroix said.

READ MORE: Vernon bistro intent on defying vaccine passports may lose liquor licence

In September 2021, with the introduction of the vaccine passport, Lacroix said she was willing to lose her liquor license instead of enforcing COVID-19 vaccine passports on her customers.

"The majority of my customers were healthy... un-vaxed people," she said.

She said the week in the fall when she did not ask for vaccine passports was the busiest in her life. The restaurant then closed to do take-out only, but Lacroix said she was then told she could have her liquor licence suspended so she reopened for dine-in service.

She now asks for vaccine passports.

"And it crushes my soul every single time," she said.

Lacroix says she jumped through lots of hoops and reinvented her business countless times to keep up with the provincial health orders.

"I think the rules make no sense... the rules have to be consistent across the board not just for licenced restaurants," she said.

More controversially, Lacroix has also made comments on social media comparing the current provincial health orders to nazi Germany.

"Another successful day at Anne Franks catering" reads one post.

When questioned that this comparison was deeply offensive Lacroix said her mother escaped communism.

"If that upsets somebody their mother didn't escape communism and didn't hear all those stories growing up,” she said.

Lacroix then said the media was “part of this problem.”

"I'm pretty sure you're going to turn this conversation into media bullshit anyway,” she said.

The real estate ad for the restaurant states that it’s a “well-established restaurant with an already developed client-base… (and) very reputable service, rated top 10 on many Vernon platforms.”

The ad goes on to say the bistro is “classy yet quaint,” and known for its “warm atmosphere and delicious food.”

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