Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Vancouver_Highrise]

Good luck getting a higher end restaurant when WERA wants family friendly and affordable LOL. In the winter it will make that area a little more lively.. a little, especially in the summer! I think there was a render out there a few months ago I can't remember who posted it.

[ozonemania]

Originally Posted by Vancouver_Highrise

Good luck getting a higher end restaurant when WERA wants family friendly and affordable LOL. In the winter it will make that area a little more lively.. a little, especially in the summer! I think there was a render out there a few months ago I can't remember who posted it.

God I hope not. "Affordable restaurant". Maybe WERA should pay the $240k a year then, huh? What family restaurant do they propose, a Chucky Cheese? There's lots of "family friendly" restaurants in the West End. Denman St. is lined with affordable restaurants. What the hell are they going on about?

[Yume-sama]

They could put in a Boston Pizza It would be right near the owners penthouse.

[mooks28]

There's a Milestone's and a Boathouse across the street. Same level of restaurant. Not exactly sure what they're complaining about...

[SpongeG]

its going to be called the "English Bay Bistro" isn't it? and isn't it suppossed to be really casual?

[Metro-One]

One would hope that along one of the most popular beach destinations in our city such a restaurant would be casual. I really hope there is still a concession style component for those who only want a pop and a hot dog, or some ice cream!

And I hope they continue with the area's palm tree theme with the landscaping

I hope most people here agree that if were are to do any tropical theme in gardening, English bay is the place (and has the pre-existing precedent and character)

[SpongeG]

the plans show it being a concession on beach level and a cafe on street level

[Metro-One]

Thanks, that is good to hear, English Bay is my favourite summer spot downtown and no city beach is complete without a concession, hehe.

[raggedy13]

I can't believe that residents of one of the densest neighbourhoods in NA are concerned over the potential traffic impact of one restaurant.

[Locked In]

^ Ya, that's totally bizarre.

As for whether it should/will be a high-end restaurant - it will not. From the Vancouver Sun article:

Park board chair Aaron Jasper, who initially opposed the project because of concerns it would be too pricey for people, said Monday the deal was a “win-win” for the city and for Cactus Club.

“We never wanted to see a high-end restaurant. It was always one that was affordable,” he said. “I think the fact that there is a concession [stand] as a part of this facility is a direct reflection of that recognition.”

The main floor of the restaurant will be 4,212 square feet, with 79 seats and a 70-seat rooftop outdoor patio. The concession stand will serve cheaper takeout items.

Vancouver celebrity chef Rob Feenie will oversee the menu for both the restaurant and concession.

Richard Jaffrey, president and founder of Cactus Restaurants, said prices at the concession will be comparable to those at the old concession stand.

“I think for comparable items I think there will be comparable pricing. Obviously it will be a year from now and we will have to review it, but affordability is going to be a big concern.”

Source: Vancouver Sun

The lone commissioner to vote against the Cactus Club deal did so because he's worried about branding - "will this lead to a Red Lobster at Locarno and a McDonalds at Spanish Banks!?!" Personally, I'm just happy the Parks board focused on securing a quality food operator with proven product and appeal for this site.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Locked In

The lone commissioner to vote against the Cactus Club deal did so because he's worried about branding - "will this lead to a Red Lobster at Locarno and a McDonalds at Spanish Banks!?!" Personally, I'm just happy the Parks board focused on securing a quality food operator with proven product and appeal for this site.

He's a clown. I'm happy with the revenue number for this too, I heard $400k/yr plus more based on overall revenues for the restaurant. Let the private business who knows how to make money operate this type of thing, it isn't health care for crying out loud.

[djh]

Originally Posted by ozonemania

From the article it will be operated by Cactus Club... not that it will be a Cactus Club.

I'm sure this restaurant chain is capable of opening a higher-end restaurant, something that has a higher profile than their typical restaurant outlet.

I saw a render of the proposed site on the news tonight, it looked pretty good. Lots of glass... with large patios and warm light. It was a quick clip so I guess I'll have to do a search for a more detailed look.

I see it as an opportunity for Cactus Club to give their executive chef Rob Feenie something to do rather than flip burgers and decorate salads with a soupcon of mango vinagrette drizzle.
At least this way, when you get burger for $20 you'll feel it was worth it because of the view...

[Locked In]

Burgers at cactus club are ~$13 - $14 dollars. Hopefully the English Bay bistro has similar prices in the restaurant, plus cheaper concession options.

[itinerant]

Isn't this the very same Bistro that has been proposed for past couple years with signage on the site and link online with many public meetings held during that period? Link at Vancouver Park Board: http://vancouver.ca/PARKS/info/planning/englishbaybistro/index.htm

The design looks great, and looking forward to seeing what looks like a really fantastic building and lively eatery on the site (finally)! Speaking as a West End Resident, I'm please to have more activity on the end of Denman Street... its far too quiet for most of the year except a couple months of summer and sunny weekends.

Cactus Club has been doing some great restaurants and improving their old locations for several years. As long as it isn't branded as Cactus Club, but operated by them under a Bistro moniker, I'd be happy.

[djh]

Imagine the line-ups on Fireworks nights!

[thefly]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

I can't believe that residents of one of the densest neighbourhoods in NA are concerned over the potential traffic impact of one restaurant.

Please don't lump all residents of the west end (like me) in with WERA....although I am sure that they wouldn't want me anyways....

[Locked In]

Is WERA the group that pastes those signs up around the West End that say things like "Don't allow 'them' to destroy the character of the West End by building high-rise rental apartments"?

[raggedy13]

Originally Posted by thefly

Please don't lump all residents of the west end (like me) in with WERA....although I am sure that they wouldn't want me anyways....

Believe me, I wasn't lumping all residents of the West End together - I am a resident of the West End!

[Locked In]

More Cactus news (including a tiny render):

Cactus Club on the beach will be affordable, accessible

By MIA STAINSBY, Vancouver SunMarch 23, 2010 5:02 PM


The Cactus Club restaurant chain will replace this concession stand with a new building.


The Cactus Club restaurant chain's model of its proposed restaurant at English Bay.


Rob Feenie knows he rocks in the kitchen and leaves the business of running the Cactus Club Cafe chain to the owner, Richard Jaffray.

So it was only last week that Feenie, celebrated as an Iron Chef, learned he might be overseeing the birth of another location, at one of the city’s postcard spots: English Bay.

“The funny thing with me is last week, Rich was away and I was so busy I didn’t really know we were vying for this,” Feenie said. “One of the things Richard said was, ‘Rob, get prepared to do a cool concession.’”

On Monday, Cactus Club Cafe got the go-ahead from the Vancouver park board to operate a casual dining restaurant, including a concession stand, for the beach, next to the English Bay bathhouse.

While the sit-down dining menu will be pretty much a carbon copy of the others, the concession stand will be something new for Cactus Club and a beacon to draw new customers to the chain.

As a family man with three kids, Feenie’s into it. “I live by UBC and we’re down at the beach with the kids five, six times a year. I know concession stands and that’s what kids want. I’m not going to stray from that. I definitely want to offer a few options, but I want it to be affordable and accessible. You know me, I’ll try push it as far as I can without going too far outside the realm of what it should be. Affordability for families is really important.”

The 79-seat restaurant (with another 79 seats outdoors) and concession stand will open in June 2011. The space is about 30 per cent smaller than the chain’s flagship at Dunsmuir and Burrard. “The budget for this one will be smaller because of the smaller space,” Jaffray said.

“We’ll be sticking with our Ocean Wise program,” Feenie said. “We’re working on new things right now. There’ll be six or seven new items by the time we open.”

Asked for his thoughts on concession stand food, Feenie points to Go Fish (on False Creek) as a stand that works well. “They took the concession and pushed the envelope. We have to be careful and not go too crazy.”

Feenie thinks his calamari sandwich, a fan favourite, will be a candidate, as well as fish and chips. As for Feenie’s Weenie, a gourmet hotdog he served when he ran Feenie’s, he chuckled. “When I get off the phone I’ll talk to Richard about that.”

Jaffray says the company didn’t conduct a market survey, but he knows English Bay is iconic “to just about everyone in the Lower Mainland, if not in the province.”

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© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Source: Vancouver Sun

By the way, do people prefer news like this in the retail thread? Or this one?

[delboy]

I like, I hope this signals a liberalizing of the city's waterfront areas which while nice, are boring. White Rock as more life on its waterfront. Vancouver lacks a defined waterfront with nightlife, restaurants, bars, retail etc. I hoped coal harbour would buck the trend but no, more condos.