Going for Bananas: Orléans rallying behind Black-owned business after city rejects bid to operate on Petrie Island
The Orléans community is rallying behind Bananas Beach Grill & Rum Shack at Petrie Island after the owners announced they would close this summer because the city of Ottawa rejected their re-application to operate.
A petition has gathered more than 3,000 signatures all in support of the small Black-owned business.
Trevor and Jewel Mason, co-owners of Bananas in Orléans, found out in late May that they would not be returning to the location they built themselves on Petrie Island. They applied in February to an open procurement process with the city because their contract was ending in March. One other business applied and it was selected instead to open this summer.