Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by PeterAKer

Boston Pizza Theatre District had a sign up saying they are opening next week on January 8th.

Could be true. They have finally been adding signs outside and one can see inside now. I was too jetlagged to see inside today, but they could indeed be only few days away from opening.

[mcminsen]

I walked by Boston Pizza Theatre District late this afternoon and the place was a beehive of activity. Workmen up on ladders still doing some last minute stuff at the west end of the restaurant and staff cleaning windows and setting tables at the other end. It almost looked like they were trying to be ready for a soft opening tonight. Also, acres of TV screens.

[DesignerBunny]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Is it going to be 24 hours?

Yes it is open 24 hours. Always super busy too!

[DesignerBunny]

Looks like the Starbucks at Robson and Jervis is remodelling. Their windows are all papered up (with Starbucks logo on them). They're still selling coffee out of plastic bins on their patio in the mean time. I guess the Tim Horton's across the street forced them to update. It was getting pretty worn down in there.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Looks like The Flying Pig at the Olympic Village is now opened for business. Quite a lot of people there when I walked by on the weekend. They gotta spruce up the area and lay proper sidewalk by 2nd Avenue, and not just some asphalt patch work.

I have also been wondering when 2nd Ave in Olympic village will be spruced up. Not just in front of the flying pig but the blocks to the east as well. Not surprised that the location is busy though. Every proper restaurant or pub that opens in the neighbourhood seems to do big business.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

I have also been wondering when 2nd Ave in Olympic village will be spruced up. Not just in front of the flying pig but the blocks to the east as well. Not surprised that the location is busy though. Every proper restaurant or pub that opens in the neighbourhood seems to do big business.

There's always the novelty of trying a newly-opened restaurant in an up-and-coming area. The longevity of the business also depends on how good the restaurant can sustain itself and also the immediate environment. Patrons can eventually be turned off by the surroundings if they are always in disrepair and lack vibancy. Tap and Barrel and Craft Beer are facing some stiff competition.

[Klazu]

Boston Pizza Theatre District is now open.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by DesignerBunny

Looks like the Starbucks at Robson and Jervis is remodelling. Their windows are all papered up (with Starbucks logo on them). They're still selling coffee out of plastic bins on their patio in the mean time. I guess the Tim Horton's across the street forced them to update. It was getting pretty worn down in there.

ummm nice theory but wrong. its been planned for a LONG time ... they are getting a CLOVER MACHINE and Starbucks Reserve collection.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

ummm nice theory but wrong. its been planned for a LONG time ... they are getting a CLOVER MACHINE and Starbucks Reserve collection.

Very few locations have those machines and they are of course reserved for the highest volume stores.

I get a chuckle every time a see a clover machine in some uber independent coffee shop because the company that makes clover is in fact owned by starbucks

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by theKB

Very few locations have those machines and they are of course reserved for the highest volume stores.

It's interesting how this location is getting a Clover machine and the location just a few blocks away on Robson and Thurlow has the machine. That must say something about the volume of business that Robson Street's Starbucks do.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by csbvan

It's interesting how this location is getting a Clover machine and the location just a few blocks away on Robson and Thurlow has the machine. That must say something about the volume of business that Robson Street's Starbucks do.

well in the "West Robson" area .... there have been 2 Starbucks closures of recent. 1 at Bidwell/Robson and 1 at Thurlow/Robson. so there has been a noticeable increase in traffic at Jervis/Robson and Denman/Robson locations let alone the remaining one on Thurlow/Robson.

[Vin]

Tide is finally turning against Starbucks. They used to only know expansion rather than closures: used to sweep across western cities and throughout the world with no or minimal coffee culture because people didn't know better (more tea drinkers outside Quebec back in the old days). West coast Canadians are finally realizing that they had been consuming crappy coffee all this time. With JJ Beans, 49th Parallel and other chains, Canadians are finally maturing up when it comes to drinking coffee.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vin

Tide is finally turning against Starbucks. They used to only know expansion rather than closures: used to sweep across western cities and throughout the world....

Yes much like the 7/11 of old there was time when they were considered omnipotent believe it or not.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Tide is finally turning against Starbucks. They used to only know expansion rather than closures: used to sweep across western cities and throughout the world with no or minimal coffee culture because people didn't know better (more tea drinkers outside Quebec back in the old days). West coast Canadians are finally realizing that they had been consuming crappy coffee all this time. With JJ Beans, 49th Parallel and other chains, Canadians are finally maturing up when it comes to drinking coffee.

Haters gotta hate...

Starbucks is doing just fine.

[dreambrother808]

Yeah, just look at their stock price. Starbucks continues to open locations, even in the relatively-saturated Vancouver market. Once again, more absurd conjecture with no regard for actual facts...

JJ, 49th, etc. appeal to those who like grassy, sour, mildly-roasted coffee. All subjective and good for those who like that, but that is not a universal preference and Starbucks appeals to a heck of a lot of people who don't.

[PeterAKer]

Carl's Jr. opened a location at YVR A-B Connector Terminal.

[whatnext]

I noticed the Café Artigiano in the old Starbucks location at Robson and Thurlow was closed. When did that happen, that's a faster closure than Target!

[SpongeG]

my friend who worked at starbucks years ago - early 2000's said the company was going to concentrate on suburban locations so they could have drive thru stores - if anyone has been out to the suburbs the drive thrus at starbucks are always busy

anyway has anyone ever eaten at that rotating restaurant at harbour centre? why is the food so pricey and awful? the view is worth it but the food is awful for what you have to pay. as much as chains are hated a chain really should take it over, cactus club in the sky!

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

my friend who worked at starbucks years ago - early 2000's said the company was going to concentrate on suburban locations so they could have drive thru stores - if anyone has been out to the suburbs the drive thrus at starbucks are always busy

anyway has anyone ever eaten at that rotating restaurant at harbour centre? why is the food so pricey and awful? the view is worth it but the food is awful for what you have to pay. as much as chains are hated a chain really should take it over, cactus club in the sky!

The food is like that because it's a tourist trap. Why bother offering good value for the money when you have another reason that people are coming there anyways?

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I noticed the Café Artigiano in the old Starbucks location at Robson and Thurlow was closed. When did that happen, that's a faster closure than Target!

Close to 9 moths ago, I believe...