Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project | Completed

[SpikePhanta]

i was at the convention centre and I was amazed!!!!!!!!

OMG I'm wishing that they will hold a future E3 gaming expo here in the future it would be perfect!!!!!!!!!1

[bils]

link

Cactus Club wins bid to open at Vancouver’s new convention centre

High-profile 500-seat location to feature two patios with ‘spectacular views’

By Mia Stainsby, Vancouver SunJuly 1, 2010 8:02 PM


Richard Jaffray owns the Cactus Club chain of restaurants. Jaffray has won a primo bid to open a restaurant in Vancouver’s new Convention Centre West complex, just west of the Olympic cauldron, in an existing stand-alone building.

Richard Jaffray owns the Cactus Club chain of restaurants. Jaffray has won a primo bid to open a restaurant in Vancouver’s new Convention Centre West complex, just west of the Olympic cauldron, in an existing stand-alone building.
Photograph by: Submitted, files

To Richard Jaffray, being a restaurateur is a lot like big-wave surfing.

And the avid surfer – who is president of Cactus Club Restaurants, with 20 restaurants in the chain – has just landed another big wave.

Jaffray has won a primo bid to open a restaurant in Vancouver’s new Convention Centre West complex, just west of the Olympic cauldron, in an existing stand-alone building.

“It’s definitely a stunning location,” Jaffray said. “There’ll be spectacular views from the two patios facing south and west. It’s a high-profile location for us and we’re very excited to have this.”

He was approached to compete for the lease on the building, which is 8,900 square feet on the ground level. There will be 300 seats inside and another 200 on the patios.

High-profile chef Rob Feenie will add it to the list of Cactus Club restaurants he oversees. The menu will be similar to others, but will be tweaked to serve the downtown, tourist and Convention Centre market.

“It will have a somewhat unique menu,” Jaffray said.

There are other commercial spaces that will be part of the development around the Convention Centre, he said. “Right now, there’s construction, but people will be able to walk all around the centre through to Gastown.”

Jaffray said it’s too early to talk about a budget, but he’s hired architect Mark Ostry to design interior and exterior elements.

“Right now, it’s about how to make the space work and make sure the energy works well and flows from both customer and employee perspectives. It’s gotta be comfortable. We’ll do the spatial planning then think about finishes and features.”

The building has a green roof and the whole complex is built to the highest level of sustainability, he said. “It’ll require some extra expertise.”

Jaffray said he’s confident about the aggressive expansion.

“I believe in Vancouver for the long term. The more I travel, the more I realize what a gem of a city we have. The world discovered that during the Olympics. I’m confident the economy, certainly for the city and for the province, too, is going to do well. This is a great city to do business in, even in challenging economic times.”

The Convention Centre restaurant is expected to open later this year. The chain’s 22nd location will open on English Bay beach next May.

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© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[Yume-sama]

Oooh, a Cactus Club. How unique! Nearly 4 blocks from their huge Burrard location.

The Worlds nicest Starbucks to come next?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by dleung

Most condos in the city have nicer looking water features. I'd rather have more plaza in this case. Who designed this POS? It makes the city look dirt cheap, like some up and coming Chinese city.

Haha I thought everything in Asia was awesome, listening to SSPers.

I thought it was ok.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Oooh, a Cactus Club. How unique! Nearly 4 blocks from their huge Burrard location.

The Worlds nicest Starbucks to come next?

Agreed. How disappointing to see flagship locations in this city going to boring chain restaurants. Its getting as bad as the USA. I expect to see a Ruby Tuesdays or Chilis built at Spanish Banks.

[Hourglass]

lol, @ WarrenC12, that applies to supertalls, rapid transit or infrastructure -- not water features...

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Agreed. How disappointing to see flagship locations in this city going to boring chain restaurants. Its getting as bad as the USA. I expect to see a Ruby Tuesdays or Chilis built at Spanish Banks.

I don't have much against Cactus Club, but it would have been nice to have a "unique" "destination" restaurant down there.

I guess Cactus Club was a safe bet, though. How many people will sink millions in to something that is not a sure thing~

[dleung]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Haha I thought everything in Asia was awesome, listening to SSPers.

Awesome from a distance. Everything there is for show; the detailing is horrible, like this water feature, which doesn't seem to be sitting on even ground. Seriously... compared to the fountains at the Bayshore neighbourhood or at Harbour Green, or at some of the towers along Georgia, this thing is an inflatable hot tub.

Originally Posted by Spongeg

the cauldron is lit

looks like no one is mad at it (yet)

I've stated my hatred of that high-school-level tinfoil installation sometime in early February...

[SpongeG]

it looked fine in person - the people were loving it and no mischief

i was there when they turned it off there was a big - nooo nooo cry cry cry

[SpongeG]

pics by me...



and just a few minutes later...

[nobase2010]

I went very early to Jack Poole Plaza to see the cauldron. In the video you will see the cauldron at the beginning (day time) and at the end (night time).

• Video Link

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Oooh, a Cactus Club. How unique! Nearly 4 blocks from their huge Burrard location.

The Worlds nicest Starbucks to come next?

Don't worry, since the HST is going to bankrupt all restaurants, there will something more unique there in due time.

(j/k)

[nova9]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Don't worry, since the HST is going to bankrupt all restaurants, there will something more unique there in due time.

(j/k)

unfortunately, only the small independent restaurants will go bankrupt because of this.

i hope against all hope that cactus club will use a unique menu and design for this huge flagship location. why not be like the glowbal group and have the same family of restaurants with some similar items at each restaurant but have it be completely different vibes and styles. i mean, maybe have a seafood oriented cactus club and have a steak oriented cactus club and a burger on and so on and on.

[djh]

The Cactus Club probably won the bid for a couple of reasons: in such a high-profile location the owners will want to ensure a restaurant operator that is reliable, has a good reputation, runs a good, profitable business (i.e., pays rent on time), and has little chance of going bankrupt. 8,900sq. ft on the waterfront probably comes at a huge price to a landlord, so they'd want to ensure your investment pays off each and every month.

Also, this is probably the perfect opportunity for Jaffray to give Feenie his own new "little" play space - I'd guess this will be informally known as "Feenies 2.0" within a few months, and the menu, interior design, and service will be a full point above any other Cactus Club.

[nobase2010]

My pictures of the 2010 cauldron during Canaday day.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/34206763@N07/4754552325/sizes/l/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/34206763@N07/4754553889/sizes/m/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/34206763@N07/4755194960/sizes/l/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/34206763@N07/4754557093/sizes/m/

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by nobase2010

I went very early to Jack Poole Plaza to see the cauldron. In the video you will see the cauldron at the beginning (day time) and at the end (night time).

Thanks for that.

It's weird. Many of the floats in that parade were also at the Steveston parade in the morning.

[Waders]

Not only is the pool bottom incomplete, some barrier should be added.
During my short vist on Canada Day, at least 1 person took off the shoes and walked into the pool. The water is only about 2 inches deep. It is a matter of time before someone would try to climb the cauldron!

[cjohnny4]

I think it should be officially renamed the "Poole pool."

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Oooh, a Cactus Club. How unique! Nearly 4 blocks from their huge Burrard location.

The Worlds nicest Starbucks to come next?

no kidding

how utterly disappointing from a city that has so much more to offer from their culinary spoon.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by djh

The Cactus Club probably won the bid for a couple of reasons: in such a high-profile location the owners will want to ensure a restaurant operator that is reliable, has a good reputation, runs a good, profitable business (i.e., pays rent on time), and has little chance of going bankrupt. 8,900sq. ft on the waterfront probably comes at a huge price to a landlord, so they'd want to ensure your investment pays off each and every month.

Also, this is probably the perfect opportunity for Jaffray to give Feenie his own new "little" play space - I'd guess this will be informally known as "Feenies 2.0" within a few months, and the menu, interior design, and service will be a full point above any other Cactus Club.

Feenie sold out

That spot should have had something inspiring and unique, regardless of how "safe" this decision was.