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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | 4 Community reels at loss of El Spero at Hopedale by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff With rumours swirling that El Spero Family Restaurant will not be staying at Hopedale Mall, members of the community have banded together to try to keep their favourite family diner in place. The Oakville Beaver has been inundated with calls and e-mails from residents upset with the news that El Spero may be on its way out of the mall after a 40-year run. It opened in 1973. El Spero co-owner Steve Kotfopoulos, who runs the restaurant with his brother Don, said the restaurant's lease ends at the end of September and the mall owner, Calloway REIT, is not renewing it. As of press time yesterday (Tuesday), Calloway REIT had not returned the Oakville Beaver's calls seeking comment. Steve said he's disappointed the lease is not being renewed, saying some of his staff have worked in the restaurant for more than 30 years. However, he's grateful to the community for its support. "We've had so much support, it's unbelievable. Our customers are great, they've really stepped up," he said. "The support has been really, really great and we appreciate that." More than 700 people have signed an online petition on change.org asking the mall's owners to keep El Spero Family Restaurant. El Spero is leaving Hopedale Mall in September after 40 years in business. The restaurant owners say their lease was not renewed. photo by Hannah Yoon ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) A similar petition has also been started by members of the nearby St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church congregation. The mall is currently undergoing what it describes as a major facelift that will include expansion to accommodate a restaurant and new retail shops, a new food court, aesthetic improvements and new entrances. The renovations are expected to be substantially completed this summer. Target is also set to open at the previous Zellers location. A neighbour of the mall, Greg Anderson, has been a regular customer of the restaurant for the past six years. In recent months, he has visited the restaurant at least once a week, if not more. "They're community-minded, good people. The food is excellent. Employees have been there for 30 years," he said. He said his increase in patronage at the restaurant is a result of his health. He's been battling cancer and has just finished chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The nausea caused by those treatments have made it difficult for him to find food that would sit well. El Spero was that place where he could eat, he said. "For some reason, popping into El Spero and grabbing one of their homemade soups has actually been very settling for my stomach," he said. "This has been very discouraging," he said. "Can you imagine being in business for that long, family business... They're a profitable business. They've served as a cornerstone there for decades." He said he had written to Calloway expressing his displeasure. He also copied those letters to some of the major tenants in the mall including Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Hortons and Target. "Somebody once said, "All change is not growth; all movement is not forward,'" he said, saying this is a prime example. "We need the Walmarts and the Targets and See Patrons on p.9 A HOCKEY HOCKEY PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS $ PER PLAYER 329 ONLY AGE 8-16 DIABETES REGISTER TODAY LIVING WITH TYPE 1 n w o t n i Staying mmer? this su dskatehockey.ca 6th-9th Aug 2013 MILTON SPORTS CENTRE, 605 SANTA MARIA BLVD. MILTON, ONTARIO With special guests: Professional athletes living with type 1 diabetes Cory Conacher, Forward for the Ottawa Senators and Chris Jarvis, Canadian Olympic Athlete Dr. Mike Riddell, PhD, founder/director of the diabetes Sports Program at York University Join us for a YMCA Stay-cation! YMCA summer membership June 28 to September 2, 2013 PLUS, exclusive discounts at Ontario attractions and retailers. Visit ymcaofoakville.com for details or call 905-845-3417. On s until J ale uly 12 No join ! ing buildin or g requir fee ed. DSKATE PARTNERS: YMCA of Oakville Peter Gilgan Family YMCA