BELLIVEAUS COVE, N.S. — On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Chez Jean Dairy Twirl is celebrating a one-day closure. What’s to celebrate you might ask?
It’s the first time in 11,111 days, or 30 years, five months and one day, that the business has closed.
Owner Jean LeBlanc says his mother always declared that as long as she was alive she’d likely never see the restaurant close under his ownership.
“She tells me I work too much,” he said.
But his parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August and Jean decided to give them a most unusual gift.
“I told them I would close for one day for their wedding anniversary present,” he said.
“What do you give people who are 82 and 83 that have everything already? My mom was excited when I told her,” he said.
Clara and Pius LeBlanc opened their small ice cream stand on the property in 1968. When Jean was old enough, he worked there for five years before attending Dalhousie University, where he studied chemistry and history.
When he returned in 1988, his parents expanded the business by adding a restaurant and in 1994 they handed the business over to him.
Chez Jean Dairy Twirl and Restaurant now has eight employees - four full-time and four part-time.
Jean says they stand in for him when he’s sick, which has only happened twice under his ownership. As for having to close for other reasons, the closest Chez Jean has ever come to that is not having any customers during stormy weather. One fellow who fought his way through the blizzard for a pop and an ice cream saved the day.
“He went back home and his wife sent him back for another pop. I think I sold for $8.56 that day,” said Jean.
There was that other storm where paramedics called to see if he would close early because people were trying to reach the restaurant and getting stuck in the road.
During hurricane Arthur Chez Jean sold hard ice cream, cans of pop and bags of chips.
On Christmas Day and Boxing Day he’s typically open from 4 to 9 p.m., with a limited menu.
“I work by myself, I don’t make the staff come in on those days. You’d be surprised the number of people that come in. For some, it’s a Christmas tradition.”
What will he do on the day the business is closed? He’ll pop in to make sure the freezers are running and later will be on the CIFA radio station for the Clare After Dark show about Area 51.
He won’t be sleeping in as he says he’d be up at 8 anyway.
“I’ll probably go for a ride on my motorcycle if all goes well.”
He may spend a bit of time working on his next book. He’s written two so far – 101 Things to do on the French Shore (now out of print) and Legends of the French Shore (available at the restaurant and at Université Sainte-Anne.
His third book will be titled “You know you’re from Clare if…”
It will be available in English, French and Acadian.
He says someday he’d like to close the restaurant for about two weeks and not have to worry about it.
“I’ve gone on vacation before but it’s always in the back of your head – is everything okay? Is the staff sick? Are they running out of anything?” he said.
He added, “I don’t know if it’s a good thing to go that long without closing. I think it’s more important to have a good time off.”
He says some people expressed surprise when he told them the business will be closed on Sept.18 and asked, “Why are you taking a day off?”
He laughed, “Well, it’s about time isn’t it?
More about Chez Jean Restaurant & Dairy Twirl
One of the reasons Jean LeBlanc chose Sept. 18 as the day for his business closure is because it’s a Wednesday and no deliveries are scheduled for the restaurant. He also liked the numerals 11,111.
Chez Jean Restaurant and Dairy Twirl is located at 3139 Anse-des-Belliveau Cove.
It’s open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m…. except for Sept. 18, 2019, when they’ll be closed.
