The Backbone of Our Community
The adage is that “small business is the backbone of our economy.” It’s said by politicians and community leaders around the world and since October is Small Business Month we are highlighting some of the great Mom & Pop restaurants that the Windsor-Essex region has to offer.

Ure’s Country Kitchen
Located at 6000 County Rd. 20 between Amherstburg and Harrow, Ure’s Country Kitchen opened its doors on June 15, 1988. Founded by Randy and Laurie Ure, their store features a restaurant, mini-putt, ice cream, a gas bar, and convenience store.
“My husband and I are a team, and I think we like the challenge,” explains Laurie. “There has been lots of challenges, but over the last few years, running a Mom & Pop convenience store—it’s been very challenging with slim gas, lottery, and cigarette margins, while the prices of labour, hydro, and everything else has increased.”



She says, though, the addition of mini putt has become a driver of sales for both their restaurant and their ice cream shop. Business has been going well, and the Ures are planning to soon install a walk-in cooler in the back of their store that will feature a wide range of beer, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages.
“Over the years, we’ve had many comments like, ‘What are you guys up to now?'” she explains. “We’re always changing. We’re trying new things and trying new products. We’re not static. People are coming in to see what we’ve got now.”

The Sandwich Nook
Having just celebrated their restaurant’s 30th anniversary in March, Mike and Maria Platsis’ The Sandwich Nook has been the picture of consistency for small business in the Town of Tecumseh.
“I think it’s partly due to our commitment and the community’s commitment,” states Maria. “That’s what’s given us longevity. I have a great staff and a great community here and I think that’s a great formula for success.”
The Sandwich Nook, located at 384 Manning Rd., is known for its excellent all-day breakfast, as well as their club sandwiches and their fantastic Reuben. Their menu has barely changed over the years—a reliability that she says her customers love.


“Any changes we’ve made have been very minor to tell you the truth,” she explains. “We’ve been consistent over the years and our menu has not changed very much. We don’t really change our products unless we have to.”
“We don’t mess with our portions, and we don’t mess with our suppliers. We’ve had to dance around different obstacles, like COVID, but you know, you dance around it, and you get back to where you are.”

Edna’s Restaurant
A staple of the Belle River community for over six decades, Edna’s Restaurant was founded by Joe Pemiraj back in the 1950’s. On Aug. 23 of this year, Stev Pemiraj celebrated, with his family, 30 years of business at their current location at 592 Notre Dame St.
“We are all about not being greedy,” emphasizes Stev. “We like to eat with a little spoon instead of a big spoon—that’s the key. We work with the customers. We don’t charge crazy prices.”
He says they are best known for their broasted chicken, which Edna’s proudly serves through their catering service at weddings, showers, birthdays, and a variety of events.


“When I cater, I give a reliable and comfortable price to the customer,” states Stev. “If I’m doing a wedding and everybody else is charging $5, I’ll do $2. I can do this because I do a lot of the work myself.”
“Our success is that we are a family-orientated business. I work with my mom, my dad, and my wife, and that’s why we can afford to do those prices.” He adds, “You can eat today, and you can also come tomorrow too, and your pocket isn’t going to be hurting too much.”
The Backbone of the Economy?
Just like Etta’s Greeklish Eatery in Walkerville and Louis’ Restaurant on Pilette in Windsor, these Mom & Pop Shops have been serving their communities for a long while, providing great food and good jobs to the locals.
So, how do they feel about the role of small businesses in the community?
“The little guy struggles, for sure, and we don’t like to be overshadowed by the big boys like McDonald’s or Tim Hortons,” states Maria. “We’ve tried to find our little niche, but our customers appreciate our quality and our staff because we care about our customers. We see the same people come in again and again and we are committed to their families who we’ve been seeing for over 30 years.”
Stev, who owns multiple small businesses, sees small business as the key to a community. “You’ll notice in town that you’ll get a couple big businesses, but then you’ll get 20 or 30 small businesses,” he points out. “They are the key to success for this town. It’s nice to support the locals because most of us small businesses employ people from town.”
Hiring locals is something Laurie agrees with. “I like to get students around Gr. 9 or 10, so we can have them for five or six years while they’re going through school,” she explains. “A few summers ago, five of the kids that worked for us bought new cars. Last summer, five of them were paying for tuition for college or university. Now, the younger ones that are coming up are buying their cars and saving for school.”
“I think small businesses, like ours, really do contribute a lot to the economy.”