THUNDER BAY — “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing.”
Jody Loos has spent his last two years as a small business owner in Thunder Bay, his establishment part of the downtown north core’s entertainment scene.
But unlike many of the restaurants and all of the pubs and bars, there’s not a drop of alcohol in sight at Howl at the Moon — its official full name also includes “dry saloon” at the end.
For Loos, focusing his business model on a dry bar was a conscious choice.
“It touches really close to home because I'm a recovered alcoholic and addict myself, and also I spent my whole entire life and career working in the bar industry,” he said.
“I worked at some of the busiest bars and nightclubs in Ontario.”
Loos said his work experience also included about a decade working in the downtown south core.
“I lost a lot of friends to addictions, to overdoses, gang violence, just people's bodies breaking down from years of excessive drug and alcohol use,” he said.
“I came to realize when I got sober that we needed a safe space where people could still come together and get that social (interaction) that they were looking for, but without the triggers of the drugs and alcohol being there,” he continued.
“I just got tired of going to funerals, you know?”
Data supplied by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit shows its catchment area has a significantly higher rate of alcohol-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations than the provincial average, to the tune of 4,023.5 per 100,000 versus 548.1 per 100,000.
Survey data from 2019-2020 also showed a higher percentage of moderate to high-risk drinking in the health unit’s area than the province.
Loos said his space, which opened at the end of March 2023, is also a place where people in recovery can meet others in the same or similar situations.
“People in recovery really want other people in recovery to succeed on their journey,” he said.
When Loos opened, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction had just released its current guidelines to alcohol consumption, stating at three to six standard drinks per week, the risk of various health risks starts to increase.
Live entertainment is a staple of most nightspots and Howl at the Moon is no exception, Loos said. In addition to offering things like live music, karaoke and open mic nights, it also features events like recovery meetings, sharing circles and traditional Indigenous music lessons.
The support from the local community and beyond over the past 24 months has been very strong, he said, adding that he’s been offered to have people do things like host karaoke, play live and other things for no cost. Additionally, he said, organizations like Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Ontario Native Women’s Association rent the space outside of business hours for a variety of wellness-related activities.
Loos also pointed to support from communities like Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Sandy Lake who he said have partnered with Howl at the Moon in various capacities and sponsorship situations.
And while he said running the business has been “a challenge” and “lean,” he’s always encouraged by the support.
“I remember leading up to grand opening, I was always convinced that conceptually this idea was sound.”
