The Innisfil Marché as it was in 2006.Located just off Highway 400, this unique log structure has seen more failed businesses than some South American banana republics seen military coups. The last business to occupy this space was the much-lauded Innisfil Heights Marché Restaurant, which opened in September, 2005 and mysteriously shut its doors sometime in the summer of 2007.
Some additional images of the Marché 'back in the day'. Professional chef couple Jörg and Marianne Reichert, best known for the Mövenpick Marchés in Toronto, opened up this 14,000 square-foot – two-story - log house with seating for 300 just off Innisfil Beach Road, minutes away from Georgian Downs (Racetrack and Slots) and the 400 flea market. The building also boasted 2,500 sq.ft. retail shop that offered everything from gifts and magazines to European chocolate, ham, breads and cheeses.
Not much has changed in terms of the appearance of the building and grounds since the abrupt closure.The Reichert's also furnished the restaurant with unique custom-made fixtures and furniture which had been imported from Spain, Switzerland, France, Holland and Germany and is reported to be worth approximately 6 million Dollars.
A 180 seat patio and balcony seats were also available to dinners, weather permitting.
The Reichert's location of the restaurant was thought to be ideal for the target market they were after; the thousands of travelers that used Highway 400 to travel from Toronto to get to the cottage in the Muskokas or to go skiing at Horseshoe Valley or Blue Mountain. As owners also employed approximately 100 staff, this business venture was very well welcomed by the Innisfil municipal department of economic development.
The sign just outside the main entrance detailed the Marché master plan which called for a petting zoo . . . very handy if the butcher delivery was late.The Reicherts planned, among many other things, a petting zoo, outside playgrounds, beer garden, picnic drive-through, a drive up banking machine and a gas station.
Restaurant Apocalypse & Ghost Guests
When I had a peek in the window, I was rather surprised to find that even after several months of closure, all the tables were set to receive dinner guests. As this seriously sketched me out, I did not attempt to determine a P.O.E. during this initial location scout.
From my view outside, I could see through the windows that the coolers were still plugged in and contained beverages. Dinnerware was stacked at the ready to be filled with food and packaged European delicacies were ready for purchase. The restaurant's web page is off line and it's telephone has been disconnected. Those whom I've asked are not sure when or why the business closed and I am unable to bump into any previous employees.
One theory I have heard is that Richtree Markets, who own Canadian chains of the Movenpick, Marché and Marchelino restaurants had a nasty falling out with its founders, Jörg and Marianne Reichert. There were several lawsuits flying but this was settled even before the Reichert's opened up the Innisfil Marché market restaurant. The theory is that one of the lawsuits reanimated from the dead (appropriate for this post-Halloween post) and bit them.
This still does not explain why the assets have not been liquidated and that the restaurant still appears as if the staff just set up for the next dinner guests.
Post a comment here if you are in the know . . .
5 comments:
Had a friend that worked there, apparently bankrupt or ran out of money somehow. They told her that they couldn't pay her yet, but she will get the money she worked for. This is a rather late comment.
late comment also... I Used to work for the Reichert's back in 1998 until 2001 in Montreal for the opening of their Movenpick Marché....And i just saw that story about their Innisfil Marché after all the judiciary conflicts with Richtree board and Movenpick in Switzerland ... IM SOOOOOOO NOT SURPRISED.... these people, Jorg and wife Marianne are screwers: unpaid suppliers, forcing a share-buy program for employees and a lot more nasty stories ... like Mrs Reichert screaming like a crazy bitch to employees right in front of customers... yeahhhhhhh i guess its part of the concept: you see everything, from the beginning to the end.......They probably simply ran away with the money, never paying for the building, furniture, suppliers, employees.......
It seems to have reopened with very limited hours and staff.. Same cooking and tables are used..
I most agree with Anonymous statement with regards to J&M Reichard. But their opened again as Tyler mentioned correctly. I personaly suffered during my short employment with them 2003 just before he was kicked out of Ritchtree. I could not carry on my legal rights as my wife fall vey mentall sick, due to Reicherts, and still consider to start to take new legal action agains them.
On top of it, both of them are professional idiods.... no clue at all.....a
The saying is "what goes around comes around" and the Reicherts get back what they distributed to a lot of their former employees...shit and hardship!. Anonymous 1&2 are correct and I collectively agree with them as Anonymous "3" on the "record". I worked with J&M Reichert in theYork Street operation in the 80's when they only had this one outlet but worked already on the Yorkville project (next to the Four Seasons Hotel) which eventually materialized. J. Reichert was actually an OK boss but his wife was a real witch (or like another Anonymous states ....a bitch) and had no idea nor knowledge in the hospitality industry (she was a secretary back in Germany). To be frank I always thoughtnthatbshe will bring the man (Joerg) one down to his knees...and maybe this has finally happens. I was part of management back in the 80's and believe that I would have stayed on if witch "M" would not have been around...she really was the one who pulled the strings from behind and made "J" walk the line she wanted. Besides this she was a zero talent if it came to human resources skills as she truly shouted and mauled employees at every possible opportunity. I noticed also that "J" is disabled since 2007 from one of the professional websites and I hope he is ok because he was an ok man when I worked for him. I also noticed that their estate (home) is up for "urgent" sale at around 3.3 mil dollars which may connects with their unfortunate direction their professional lives have taken. Does anyone has an update on the Reicherts? In any case I do not wish anyone anything bad and specially not any illness; so I do hope both of them are healthy and can enjoy the retirement years of their lives.
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