The last time I saw my dad, it was late August in 2006 and he was sitting in the A&W with Lawrence Mercredi. My son Cody and I were both driving back to school at the University of Alberta (U of A), so we stopped to say goodbye.

My dad died on Nov. 5, 2006, a little over two months after we saw them, and Lawrence died in October 2013. And now, the A&W is closing. In a way, it too has died, at least in this current location.

Todd Stewart and Randy Caines took it over from Larry Adams in 2010 and kept it open till December 2024, when it sold its last Uncle Burger. Todd and Randy are teachers and were apparently pursuing long-held dreams.

They actually owned the restaurant longer than anybody else, but decided to get out of the fast-food business for various reasons. We have lost two popular fast-food restaurants in the Yellowknife downtown area recently.

The Ramsays opens A&W

Frank and Peggy Ramsay opened the A&W in March 1996. Frank says they saw right away that the business needed more attention, and he was busy managing Marks, so Peggy left the federal government to run the restaurant.

Frank said he came to Yellowknife in 1981 and worked for the Dene Nation for over a year then moved to other things. He says he enjoyed owning the restaurant and he remembers my dad coming in all the time.

He says he actually used to visit my dad with their good friend Richard (Dick) Griffin. Frank and Dick were both from the East Coast, so Frank used to get Dick to do odd jobs with him. He said, SA国际影视传媒淚 had some good laughs with Richard and your dad.SA国际影视传媒�

Frank and Peggy now live in New Brunswick, but Yellowknife still feels like home when they come to visit.

My dadSA国际影视传媒檚 table

Larry Adams bought the restaurant from Frank in 2001. It was during this period that my dad would go downtown on the bus every morning and afternoon to sit in A&W. He liked sitting there because Larry was there every day keeping things orderly.

If someone was obviously drinking, Larry asked them to leave. He says regular customers told him they liked that. He said once a guy was bothering a lady for some of her fries and Larry asked him to leave. After the guy left, the lady said, SA国际影视传媒淭hank you. That was my nephew, but he can be a pest when heSA国际影视传媒檚 drinking.SA国际影视传媒�

Larry had lots of good memories about the restaurant, saying lots of people would sit at the same table every day. My dad went there twice a day and sat at his regular table. People like John LeMouel, Tommy Ross, my brother Guy and I would join him at coffee time when we were able.

Many of our friends would sit with my dad also. I often wondered what people thought when younger people would sit with him. For instance, Lawrence Mercredi was 52 and my dad was 86 when Cody and I saw them in the A&W. Lawrence worked at the mine, so he had plenty of time when he was in town. I really appreciated that he sat with my dad.

Larry fondly spoke about Henry Jones, who used to sit every morning with a group of guys at the first table by the door going into the kitchen. The group included a bank manager, and when Henry died, the group of guys put a plaque with HenrySA国际影视传媒檚 name on the table.

My dad would miss A&W

So, now the A&W sits empty, with brown paper covering the windows. ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure my dad would be very sad and would miss his usual place to go every morning and afternoon.

He loved sitting there looking out the window because he could see everything going on at the post office and at the busiest corner in town: Franklin Avenue and 49 Street. And, of course, he really liked it when people like Lawrence Mercredi joined him.

And people agree with former owner Larry who says itSA国际影视传媒檚 too bad A&W shut down, because SA国际影视传媒減eople really need a place to go.SA国际影视传媒�

Andrew Crapeau, from Dettah, went there every day except Sunday, when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no bus. He said, SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 like that A&W shut down. People went there all the time, from the communities too. Now people donSA国际影视传媒檛 know where to go. Some people now go to the Red Apple and it has a bathroom too.SA国际影视传媒�

A guy who likes A&WSA国际影视传媒檚 burgers went regularly to A&W and he said, SA国际影视传媒淚 went there to see the people and to catch up on the news. ISA国际影视传媒檒l miss being able to do that.SA国际影视传媒�

Frank Beaulieu, from Fort Resolution, said, SA国际影视传媒淐ommunity people go to A&W too. We go see whoSA国际影视传媒檚 there and to visit with people. Where will people go now? I hear that theySA国际影视传媒檙e opening a restaurant where L'atitudes used to be. Maybe we can go there. There wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be any windows though.SA国际影视传媒�

Yes, my dad sure would miss his favourite meeting place at A&W. I will too. How about you?