Fredericton riverside pub endures amid restaurant turnover

Cannon's Cross Pub, a Fredericton-based riverside pub has continued operating at the same location since the early 2000s, despite high turnover in the restaurant industry, according to staff and ownership. (Credit: Suzanne Shah/AQ)

A pub on the north side of Fredericton has remained open since the early 2000s, relying on long-term staff, local ownership and regular customers in an industry known for high turnover.

Located near the Gibson Trail along the Saint John River, the pub has remained in business for more than two decades. 

Mike Babineaux, president of Bella Hospitality Group and co-owner of Cannon’s Cross Pub since 2017, said the business has relied on a consistent base of customers over time.

“We have such a strong, amazing group of regulars that have been visiting Cannon’s since it opened,” Babineaux said.

Staff members say that continuity is also reflected in how long employees stay at the pub. 

Rachel Lively, a Fredericton resident who began working at Cannon’s Cross in 2017, said several staff members have been there for years, including one bartender who has worked there for 15 years.

“Stuart has worked here since 2002, when we first opened,” said Lively. 

Lively said the pub’s beer selection also reflects its regional focus.

“We have 16 different taps for local breweries,” she said. “Those are all breweries from different places across Fredericton and New Brunswick.”

Rachel Lively pours a beer at Cannon’s Cross Pub, which carries multiple taps from New Brunswick breweries. (Credit: Suzanne Shah/AQ)

Seasonal conditions still affect customer behaviour even if daily operations remain steady.

“It’s definitely a lot less busy in the wintertime,” said Jessica Tupling, who has worked at the pub for about a year and a half. “But not enough to really impact [the pub] a whole lot.”

Tupling said weather can influence how customers choose to interact with the business.

“Especially on a day like today, where it’s snowy and the roads are kind of bad, a lot of people don’t want to leave their house,” she said.

For some customers, the pub has remained part of their routine for years.

Luke Levesque, who has lived in Fredericton since 2005, said he has been coming to Cannon’s Cross for more than a decade.

“Probably 10 plus years,” Levesque said.

Richard Springer, a Fredericton resident and business owner, said he has visited the pub “off and on for years.”