An Edmonton restaurant owner is scrambling after complications with bankruptcy led to the city cancelling his lease right before Thanksgiving weekend.

Sylvester Borowka has owned and operated Continental Treat since 1982, at one point expanding to two locations and multiple farmers markets. The establishment has also been known for catering to diners with celiac (gluten-free) dietary needs.

But financial problems that began during the COVID-19 pandemic came to a head Oct. 10 after the city, which owns the Downtown building where Continental Treat operates, informed Borowka he and his 35 employees had an hour to vacate the premises at the corner of 97 Street and Jasper Avenue.

“At first I thought it was a joke,” he said. “But then I checked who was calling and saw it was the building man

See Full Page