Why a Manitoba restaurant is going cash only

A family-owned restaurant in Morden is now only accepting cash to save thousands in fees. CTV’s Harrison Shin explains.

A family-owned restaurant in Morden, Man., is attempting to save thousands of dollars in fees each year by only accepting cash.

Alex Kanski, owner of Moment in Thyme Neighbourhood Grill, recently announced the business is going cash-only for payment options, citing fees as the reason to drop all card payments.

“For us, it’s been about $7,500 a year. Next February is three years (since opening) for us, so that’s just over $22,000,” he told CTV News on Tuesday.

The restaurant posted the notice on social media on Jan. 22. Kanski said so far the reactions from customers have been mixed.

“We’ve had lots of comments that people are fine with that,” he said.

“Obviously there are few people saying, ‘that could hurt our business.’

“I’ve received an email, just telling me that they think it’s a really bad idea and they probably won’t be coming because that’s all they carry – cards.”

Right now, as a transitional period, the restaurant still accepts card payments but encourages customers for cash payments. Kanski said as of Tuesday, the long-term plan is to go cash-only.

Customers like Josh Nickel said the food is worth it to withdraw cash from an ATM.

“I was hungry, and I really wanted to eat here, so I made the effort. Now that I know (it is cash only), I’ll just always have cash on me,” Nickel said.

Michelle Auger, director of trade and marketplace from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the move is an interesting one – but not surprising.

“We’re at a time right now where all of operating business lines, they’re all increasing,” she said. “There has to be a trade off for some small business owner. They’re looking at where can we save money.

“If that’s an option, it seems like that is the business decision that they are making at this time.”