C i./JrI ACOI û.ý I:fllieTJ,4u , iC~ P.ý I m "4y 'w PAGE, 8, wHiTBY FREE PREss, wEDNEsDAY, DEcEmBER 5,1990 Moving the business in or out of the'Ibig City" It's by no means a mass exodus, but there's a growing trend of entrepreneurs leaving the crowded city for a new life in the country. The appeal is obvious for these new pioneers: a life that's less hectic but stili, conducive te, running a successful business. 'We're definitely seeing more small businesses moving away from ,the big city and into this area, sasill Thomson, economie developent commis- sioner for IYiýhoener, Ontario. Although the KItchener-Waterloo =eio has a substantial pplton of 300P000, it's only a ten-minute drive from the city centre te an idyllic rural setting. 'We've had a number of inquiries froin business people in Toronto asIng about office space, shopping malse and industrial naks in this region," notes From an economic viewpoint, compelling reasons can draw an owner-nanager away froin the big city. Metropolitan Toronto bas earned the reputation of being one of the inost expensive places to live and work in ail of North knerica. Business coats - labor, supplies and rents - are dranriatically lower in sinaller centres tliroughout Ontario. Rents in downtown Kitchener, for instance, range from $10 to $15 a square foot'for office, while the going rate for the strip retail areas is between $15 and $25 per square foot -a fraction of the cost ofleasing prime space in Toronto. Although the coet of doing business is considerably lower in the biniterlands, there's a major trade-off for an entrepreneur who wants country living. Be prepared for a substantial drop in incarne. That's exactly what human relations conEsultant Don Canci of Maple Stone Consulting Ltd. soon discovered when, in 1982, he elected te leave Toronto and move Ir 100 miles northwest into an 1847 stone farmhouse outside of Owen Sound. I expected I would be able te* keep moat of my. original c Stoes in consulting. But it really didn't work out that way. I couILnt maintain my contacts as readily as I could when I was in downtown Toronto," admits Cianci, who had about 15 steady clients in the big city but is now down to just four. "Nevertheless, we found it much easier te, live here in the country on less income," says Cianci. lIn partnership with bis wife, Suzanne Nadon - another management consultant who was based in Toronto - the two go on the road to conduct teazn building seminars and interpersonal com- munications sessions for corpora- tions ini Montreal, Toronto and Barrie. The Ciancis have diversified into other cottage industries, including desktop publisbing and repairing old homes. "We've split up our work and our roles are completely interchangeable," says Cianci. For them, the main attraction of living in the country bas littie to do with financial remunera- tion. Says Cianci, 'The city holds no magic for us. We live much better here than we ever did in Toronto. We have four little id who are able te, play on 10 acres of field out front and 40 acres out bacmk."t Above ail, Cianci says he is relatively immune from the hurly-burly city -pressures of baving te, earn more in order not te fall behind. As he expains, 'We don't have te make a lot of mon here. We don't have te look ew live exponsively as people tend te do in Toronto te justify the incomes they earn." AMANDA JUDD, 1, and mother Kathie were among the large crowd who watched the aimual tree-hightinjg ceremony, at the Whitby Public Libr- ary on Friday night. The event kicks off the Downtown Business Improvement Area Christmas festival. ChraI. ove photo DBTA Christmas events Dec. 1 - 17 Dec. 1 - 17 Dec. 1 -24 Dec. 1 -24 Dec. 1 - 24 DOC. 6 DeC.?7 Dec. 8 clixatmoiSclng Draw Tay Drive Wea'n'Win Christmas Button Camjai Chritmas Paring Bonus Ride the Transit Trimn-a-Toee Day Candleit Ope Houa. Der- 8 &£15 Dac. 13 Dec. 14 Dac. 15 &£16 DeM 15 Dec. 25 For more 666-4189. Cider anc inamen Baturdaya HWiat d alWalklngTour information, -cali "Hey, klds, can you get rld of these chlckens? They're maklng It dit ficuit for me f0 concentratel", eih ls' e Kinsmen plan bash Location hlsMeories' Whitby Kinsmen are planning a Chfistnias party for staff mem- bers of small businesses in Whitby. The 'Whitby Merchants' Christmas Dinner and Dance Gelebration' will be held at Hey- densbore Pavillon on Wednes- day1D. 12, 6 p.m. to, 1 a.rn. nsînen plan te create a "big party, atmospbere» for Whitby businesses wbich have sm ail staffs. Dinner wilI be served by Touch of Class. Cost is $35 per person, including dinner, disc jockey, dancing, door prizes and a visit by Santa. Funds raised g o ta the Whitby General Hospital building fund. For more information calILee Perry (A Midsum mer's Dream) at 668-1199 (after hours, 430- 1320) or AI Wolski (Brock General Hardware) at 666-1254. $102,577 in tax write-offs The Spyrou family bas many ears of resturant experience hind thein. This past summer they decided to put that experience tr, work for thein by openin Memories Restaurant at 939 Duendas St. W. in WVhitby. Owner Spyro Spyrou is proud Memories bas met with such wide approval frein the public in just four months. "So far it's gone really well, our reputation is really good," says Syprou. Over the past 13 years the Spyrous, have worked at many fine restaurants across the i',înf-ri v ad bvond. Most- Bty Trudie Zavadovlcs bauncrJo e Bgelsi te recenl they managed the Five defunct Whitby onilrJeBgl sdth Moviola Cafe. businessesl account for more than report pointed eut how valuable half of-tbe $102,577 in tax write- industry sud commerce are ta Father Jin Spyrou serves as offs listed in the treasurer's the Town of Whitby. the chef at Mernories. Ini the past report presented at the Town It also translates in job loss,» he has employed bis talents at operations committee Monday said Bugelli. "There is a loss of locations in both North Ainerica night. income te, many people. There sud ini Europe. Spyrou says bis Twenty-nine other fallen are 125 jobs lest in Cobi (Foods father is one of only a few chefs in businesses make up the majority Inc.) alonie." tliis area, noting there's a big cf the -rest of the total sum. difference between a coek sud a Cobi FoodahInc, Oshawa Steel The freasurer's report states true chef. Ltd., A. Ewing Automobile Inc., that under section 496 of the I diint ahradsn Smith and Nephew, sud Diana Municipal Tai Act, the treasurer motheraditon t fainthe sdcson, Temple Fashions, ail Whitb~ shall recominend that uncoîlec- mherie w ok Sn teis sithnt business which have folde2, table taxes be struck off the rail. manaer.f ad i sitn account for $80 440 in tax write- Council, upon the recommenda- mage ossalag eu offs of the total t102,577. tien of the assessment depart- Meoisoas'alarge eu dircthe reaur~r arBeCIaZlginSefod."Ter Mâd6ff tfefl: ar oin pMeà t è~odds restaurants)," says Spyrou. Spyrou's homemade soups are gaining a reputation, and the lunch menu features a host of specialty salads. Plans are alsa in the works te add a salad bar for the lunch crowd. The restaurant itself bas been a Whitby landhnark for about 35 years, under previous naines like La Petit and 'the Coach House. That bistory led te the selection of the naine, Memories, Spyrou expais, "since the restaurant has been around se lIong, we thought there would be a lot of aiso, led te, thei slogan, "A truly experience." restaurant's memorable Although there bave been many renovations since becomning Memories, one thing bas not cbanged, the restaurant's relatively srnali size. That bas been a big advantage, allowing the staff te pay doser attention te the individu ai custemner. It aise provides for a more intimate environinent. "We cater te, diners, lunchers, not a bar crowd," says Spyrou of bis 65-seat establishment. Food, toy drive Valentino's in downtown ($200); Avalon Fitness Centre Whitby is holding a food andty one-year membership ($300); drive, with prizes ta, be awarde Garbo's clothin ($50)- Patches for donors during a draw. sud Threads ($50); dinner for Anyoe cn ener he Cil-two at Anteny's ($50); dinner for Anyoe cn eter he hik twe at Dona Y Megal's ($50); dren's Wish Draw by donating dinner -for twe at the Greek two canned goods or oe unwrap- * yon $0;flive medium pizzas ped tey. froPzza Hut; Casia key-board Prizes te be won include a ($100). kid's bike, worth $150, donated Food donations will be given te by Bay Sports; Joico Hair Care the Salvation Army fer distribu- Preducta ($300); Valentino's tien. Týpy donations will be given Deluxe Day of Beauty ($150); te, the Children's Wish Fouj4a- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P