{"id":16737,"date":"2025-02-18T01:29:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T01:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/18\/owners-of-popular-jasper-deli-aim-to-reopen-after-wildfire-but-in-edmonton\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T01:29:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T01:29:49","slug":"owners-of-popular-jasper-deli-aim-to-reopen-after-wildfire-but-in-edmonton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/18\/owners-of-popular-jasper-deli-aim-to-reopen-after-wildfire-but-in-edmonton\/","title":{"rendered":"Owners of popular Jasper deli aim to reopen after wildfire, but in Edmonton"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As the community of Jasper continues to rebuild after last summer\u2019s devastating wildfires, the owners of a popular business in the mountain town have hatched a plan to reopen in Alberta\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFinancially, and emotionally, we need to do this,\u201d Wendy Leitch told Global News on Monday. Just weeks before Jasper was evacuated because of wildfires, she and her husband Glen had just celebrated the 20th anniversary of their opening the popular Patricia Street Deli.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to get back open,\u201d Wendy said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been closed since July 22.\u201d<\/p>\n

The July fires in Jasper National Park forced thousands of people to flee the area and destroyed about 350 homes and businesses, according to local officials. Late last month, the Insurance Bureau of Canada provided a revised estimate on the total damage caused by the fires, noting that had increased to $1.23 billion from $880 million.<\/p>\n

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Wendy and Glen said they are still wrestling with some insurance issues after losing their business in the fire, but have decided to open a new chapter for their business in downtown Edmonton and are using an online platform to try to crowdfund the money they will need to do that.<\/p>\n

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\u201c(We are) inviting the people that love us to become part of the rebuild,\u201d Wendy said. \u201cBecause the deli doesn\u2019t just belong to us, it belongs to a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that she believes the wildfire had an impact on many people beyond those who live in the Rocky Mountains.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJasper doesn\u2019t belong to just the community of Jasper, it belongs to everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Wendy and Glen said they plan to keep the Patricia Street Deli name and added that some former employees have expressed interest in being part of the business\u2019 new era in Edmonton.<\/p>\n

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The couple said in December they ramped up their search for where they might like to reopen, and found a space that will be five times bigger than their Jasper location was.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to start with everything we did, and then expand on that,\u201d Glen explained, adding that he hopes they can reopen before the deli\u2019s next anniversary, which is in July.<\/p>\n

Glen and Wendy said reopening with the deli\u2019s old traditions would not have been possible without the help of their children.<\/p>\n

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