Food services comings and goings in Victoria

[Rosie's Boy]

I guess it depends on the dialect or language. Which one is Mandarin and which one is Gong Tong Wah?

[Rosie's Boy]

Who remembers Polar Pete's?
How about Chez Marcel?
And do you remember where Western Speedway used to be before it moved up Millstream?

[Rosie's Boy]

Boy, have I got a lot to learn!
Why is Chez Marcel now in red?
Doesn't anybody remember Polar Pete? It was right on the way.
And just where was that Speedway?
Let's be hearin' from ya'!

[Sparky]

Langford Raceway was on Jacklin Road where Ruth King Elementary is now.

[Rosie's Boy]

Thanks, "Super Sparks". Good to know I'm not the only dinosaur who remembers that noise in mid-Langford. Now, let's be hearing from some folks out there about 2 more long-gone West Shore institutions, Polar Pete and Chez Marcel!

[Sparky]

[Holden West]

^No need to drive, it's just a hop, skip and jump away from Downtown--walk on down--and bring your golf clubs!

[Sparky]

Truth in advertising.

[VicHockeyFan]

^^^ That would make John Asfar proud. His Cowichan Bay resort was advertised as "45 minutes from Victoria" and his Mt. Tolmie lookout was "10 minutes from downtown". It wasn't his fault if people drove slow.

[lumix]

Oak Bay Bistro is now up for sale: http://www.icx.ca/PropertyDetails.as...Key=2120239701

I wonder what it will change to now?

[Sparky]

Welcome to vibrantvictoria lumix.

[Mike K.]

Oak Bay Bistro must have been in operation for less than a year after it replaced the Blethering Place, no?

I assume business isn't good if the sale price is only $200k. The listing also cites the owner as being "motivated."

[Dylan Leblanc]

Reinstate the Blethering Place.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

Reinstate the Blethering Place.

Exactly! The name change left the tourists thinking that location was gone.

[pikabu]

Oak Bay needs a good breakfast and lunch place. I would love to see a "Blue Fox' style restaurant there.

The Oak Bay Village area really needs a welcoming, neighbourhood eatery.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Oak Bay Bistro must have been in operation for less than a year after it replaced the Blethering Place, no?

I assume business isn't good if the sale price is only $200k. The listing also cites the owner as being "motivated."

My understanding is that they have yet to have a profitable month since they took over. Part of that has to do with the astronomical rent that they pay. I think that the concept is wrong - they're all over the shop with their menu and they're trying to compete with Penny Farting, rather than differentiate themselves somehow.

Also, the "motivation" is a result of the partnership behind OBB breaking up, leaving really only one backer. He's sick of bleeding money, which is why he's a motivated seller.

At the end of the day, I think that they'll either end up selling to some muggins or they'll just walk away and liquidate the fixtures.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

My understanding is that they have yet to have a profitable month since they took over. Part of that has to do with the astronomical rent that they pay.

When I read this:

This offering is for the sophisticated investor and requires an operator who understands true present value and the potential, given the assets and location/lease

I say the same thing too, the landlord is surprised that there are some people unwilling to pay that kind of rent. The rent that he sees as reasonable. Now, it may well be, but that line screams to me that "hey, when you read the lease terms, you better be "sophisticated" or you just don't understand why the price is high".

[Candarius]

Always reminds me of the joke: How do you make a small fortune in restaurants?

Start with a large fortune.

[Matt R.]

My intel is that the rent is $13k/month. Pretty tough to make a go of it. I really like the crew at the OBB, Bart and Chef Waller are awesome guys. I had hoped it would be a draw for people from elsewhere in Victoria, helping everyone in Oak Bay do better. They just celebrated their 1 year last month.

Matt.

[Sparky]

I have gathered 7 of us to go to the Brewery and the Beast. I am looking forward to that. Matt I hear you have a wing man attending.

[Matt R.]

No pun intended I am sure.

Yes, I am not sure how big our contingent can be, but I am hoping for 3 at least. As soon as we committed to going, there was a long list of people who were interested. I am tempted to buy a ticket and go as a guest, let the young'uns slave away over a hot grill.

Scott Gurney is awesome at these events if I didn't mention that before. Surely this will be one to remember, and I guess he's going to push the capacity to the max, which is nearly 1000. Great crowd!!

No word yet on what we are going to bring to the party, but we tend to have a lot of fun at these things and let our hair down, so to speak. Tickets are better than half gone already, which in a last-minute town like Victoria is really saying something.

Matt.

[Sparky]

^ Tunes, meat, beer. (the three major food groups) A perfect afternoon.

Thanks for that Matt......oh..and in case you didn't know.....think "smoked"

[LJ]

I went to Mary's cafe in Westbay to get some fish and chips yesterday and it was locked up tight. Did I miss the closing?

[pikabu]

Matt (or anyone else), is their a percentage of what a restaurat should pay for rent (in relation to gross sales, wages etc?

Just curious.

[Matt R.]

Mehhh, so many variables, but somewhere in the 6-12% range.

Given that 60-70% of your costs go straight to labour, food and bev there isn't much left for rent, R&M, etc etc etc.

Matt.