March 14, 2026

BETHUNE BISTRO BACK IN BUSINESS AFTER BEING IN HOT WATER WITH HEALTH UNIT

GRAVENHURST — Friday the 13^th may be bad luck in some places.

But not at Bethune Bistro — and for downtown Gravenhurst.

Bei Bei was happy to reopen her restaurant yesterday after unceremoniously being closed by the health unit before Christmas when she was written up over the kitchen.

This morning, over an omelette, she said she had rectified all issues concerning a back door that didn’t close tight enough, a dishwasher that wasn’t hot enough, a greasy shelf and flooring under the chip fryer, which “I get” was difficult to clean.

She and her son, Sam, tightened the door, turned up the heat on the dishwater, washed up kitchen shelves, poured cement under the fryer and paid $600 for and exterminator to spray.

Thursday the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit placed a green thumbs up inspection sign notice in he front window.

Bei Bei and server Pam Ellis were back on the job making egg rolls this morning and serving breafast, lunch and dinner customers after being closed more than two months. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

Bei wishes the inspector hadn’t acted so abruptly just when the Bistro had Christmas parties booked.

“They came in at noon, when we were busy, and told everyone they had to leave — that the restaurant was closed. I let everyone go without paying.

“I wished they had said ‘do this or do that’ and come back the next day or the next week.

“We could have wiped the shelf … . There was never any sign of mice coming in the back door.”

Due to the timing and curtness Bei said it affected her blood pressure and she said to heck with it for the holidays.

And considered not re-opening.

But luckyily for the downtown, which couldn’t bear another empty storefront, she had a change of heart for her longtime cutomers, cottagers, tourists and Chinese visitors.

**Bei said she wished the health unit had given them more time instead of coming in, shutting the retaurant and telling the customers to leave.**

Over the past two months — in consultation with the new owner she’d previously sold the main street building to — she said she had remedied all the concerns.

And Friday she was back in business behind the stove with long-time server Pam Ellis dishing out all-day meals.

“I’ve been here 12 years,” said Ellis. “I’m the longest-serving employee now.”

Son Sam and fellow waiter Ian Brown will also be back behind the counter bringing coffee and waiting tables 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily — except Wednesday when they are closed.

Bei has a new menu coming out next week, but it won’t have sushi or any other Japanese items.

Canadian and Chinese cuisine only.

Business was a little quiet today.

“We knew it would be,” said Ellis. “It will take a few days for word to get around.”

Meanwhile it’s business as usual at the popular hangout at Muskoka Road and Hotchkiss Street.

Which is good news for the retail and commercial core of the Gateway to Muskoka community that is going through a tough transition time heading into spring after a winter of severe business losses.