JERKebago owner Joshua Blake speaks to Quinte West council on June 5, 2017. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
A Caribbean-based outdoor restaurant has been given the green light to open in Quinte West.
Monday night, council permitted JERKebago to open up shop at 22178 Loyalist Parkway in Carrying Place.
A staff report noted issues around providing a bylaw exemption because of the food truck’s close proximity to Tabersnack and similarities in items on the menus.
Owner Joshua Blake addressed council stating he and his wife took over the former Lala’s Perogies location which also served food and the only similarities are Tabersnack features jerk chicken on its poutine.
Blake said he and his family are ecstatic council had a change of heart and granted the permit.
“This is very exciting,” said Blake. “We worked really hard since January to get this going and it would have been painful to tear down what we have started already.”
Councillor and fellow businessman Michael Kotsovos said he supported the exemption because ‘competition is healthy.’
Blake says if all goes according to plan they will fire up their 18 square foot charcoal grill this weekend.
“We look forward to bringing what we do to the area,” he said.
