The return of in-person classes at Simon Fraser University has been a shot in the arm to many businesses on campus and in the UniverCity housing development on Burnaby Mountain.
But not all of them.
The Study Public House on the SFU Burnaby campus has notified the school that it will be “temporarily closed for an undetermined amount of time,” reads a post on the SFU website.
The last day of service was Nov. 12, said the school. The Study had been closed for most of the pandemic as the campus was deserted due to classes moving online. The Study then reopened in September on a limited schedule with a scaled-back menu when classes resumed. The Study is known for its style and having one of the city's best views, with a patio that has a 180-degree of Burnaby from on top of the mountain.
“While we are disappointed with this news, we recognize the challenges that campus food and retail services have faced from the impacts of the pandemic,” said SFU Chief Commercial Services Officer, Mark McLaughlin, in a statement. “We will work with The Study to support re-opening when it’s feasible to do so.”
The Joseph Richard Group (JRG) which operates The Study and more than a dozen other restaurants plus several liquor stores, said that the temporary closure is due to lower-than-anticipated customer volume this term, said SFU.
“The Study is temporarily closing due to low traffic as we transition through what we hope to be the end of the pandemic,” said Ryan Moreno, co-owner of JRG, in a statement. “We have enough positions available to transfer all current staff to other JRG locations at this time. We will continue to work with the team at SFU to monitor the situation and ensure we’re prepared to reopen as soon as possible.”
“The Study is an important part of our campus vibrancy and we know that our community looks forward to its swift return,” said SFU. “Until The Study reopens, we encourage community members to visit the diverse array of dining and restaurant options across Burnaby Mountain.”
