Waffle Bandits to close Jarvis Street location, shift to catering

Waffle Bandits will close its Jarvis Street restaurant on February 15 and continue operating as a catering business after several months of declining foot traffic and mounting family pressures, owner Miruna Beti said.

The closure ends the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar chapter but not the business itself, with operations set to resume as Waffle Bandits Catering from a commercial kitchen at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

The change reflects broader challenges facing small, family-run food businesses on Jarvis Street during winter months while underscoring the role of local operators who remain active in Bridgeburg’s revival.

Beti, the co-owner of Waffle Bandits with her husband Sal, told Fort Erie Radio the storefront had become financially unsustainable as customer traffic slowed after the opening of a similar breakfast franchise in town and seasonal conditions reduced walk-in visits.

Beti said the shift to catering allows Waffle Bandits to continue serving the community in a format more flexible for their business interests.

“We’re genuinely excited about this next chapter,” said Beti. “We love our customers and this community, and this lets us continue doing what we do best, just in a different format.”

The decision was announced while her young son was hospitalized for 16 days as of publishing with appendicitis complications that required two surgeries, limiting her ability to be present at the restaurant.

“Our son going into the hospital…for a more extended period of time really put a strain on our family, so we decided to pivot into a business model that allows for more flexibility and is more sustainable,” she said.

Waffle Bandits Catering will operate from St. Paul’s Anglican Church, which shares space with the Fort Erie Community Preschool. The catering operation will offer many of the same dishes as the Jarvis Street restaurant, along with additions such as Mexican-inspired food that reflects her husband Sal’s background.

Beti serves on the preschool’s board of directors, and her youngest child attends the program.

Customer response since the announcement has been emotional, Beti said, with many families sharing personal connections to the restaurant.

“I have heard ‘this was my kid’s favorite place’ and ‘this was our favorite family restaurant’ hundreds of times, and every time it warms my heart and makes it grow a bit bigger,” she said.

Beyond the business, Beti has played a major role in Bridgeburg’s recent community events as an active member of the Bridgeburg BIA. She organized some of Bridgeburg’s largest initiatives ever, including the Fort Erie Santa Claus Parade and the Truck or Treat event on Jarvis Street.

Last December, Bridgeburg BIA vice-chair Korinne Antaya told Fort Erie Radio that the Santa Claus Parade would not have been possible without the efforts of Beti.

“She was the driving force behind the entire parade,” said Antaya, adding that Beti “organized like 90 per cent of it.”

Beti urged residents to continue supporting local businesses on the street after Waffle Bandits closes.

“Keep showing up for small businesses that are run by people in the community, because that is the best way we can all progress and make our town the best place it can be,” she said.

The Jarvis Street location will remain open until February 14, with a farewell Bubble Dance Party scheduled for 1 p.m. that day.

Reservations can be made by contacting Beti at contact@wafflebandits.ca.

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