Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[jollyburger]

More photos from Pret A&W Manger

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-a-manger-location-in-vancouver-photos/

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

More photos from Pret A&W Manger

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...t-a-manger-location-in-vancouver-photos/

The two most photographed fridges in Vancouver.

[CivicBlues]

$7.50 for a tomato and cheese sandwich?

I don't want to live in this world anymore....

[officedweller]

The new Pizza Pizza at Library Square sent out flyers with a free slice coupon (cheese or pepperoni) to area condos.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The two most photographed fridges in Vancouver.

Haha, I was going to say the same. I have no idea why people froth over something this overpriced. I have always found Pret A Manger just another sandwich / coffeeshop.

[giallo]

I used to go to the ones in Hong Kong as they were conveniently placed in most metro stations. The food was nothing to write home about.

[dreambrother808]

It's around $10 for a full-size baguette sandwich. That seems relatively cheap to me or at least fairly priced.

If you look at the number of people who buy pre-frozen, mediocre paninis from Starbucks, Pret should do well considering it's a superior, fresh option.

Most Starbucks have moved away from ready-to-grab foods though, seemingly due to theft.

A grocery store can fit a security guard in their budget but these small-scale food locations can't.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by giallo

I used to go to the ones in Hong Kong as they were conveniently placed in most metro stations. The food was nothing to write home about.

Yes, in London I've find them a good quick lunch option when you're out experiencing the city. The food is nothing to write home about though.

I always though they were geared at the office crowd which make Marine Gateway (with limited office workers) a strange first location.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by PeterAKer

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has closed all its locations in Washington at Northgate Mall (401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle) and Bellevue Square (595 106th Avenue NE, Bellevue) effective today August 8.

https://seattle.eater.com/2019/8/6/20756...-washington-locations-northgate-bellevue

This certainly signals that CPK is not staying in Washington or coming to British Columbia.

Parents owned Boston Pizza franchises and he also does Browns Socialhouse in Edmonton.

California Pizza Kitchen has entered the Canadian market with a location in Edmonton and plans to grow the brand across the country.

Giorgio Minardi, Executive Vice President of Global and Franchise Operations, said this is the company’s first franchise restaurant in North America. All of the brand’s locations in North America, apart from airports and captive markets, are company owned.

“Before the pandemic we had a couple of other opportunities, which we still have. But here we think we’ve found the right partner. In franchising, you need someone who understands, loves the brand and expresses it locally so it can really come alive,” said Minardi.

“And so we waited. We waited actually a couple of years to make sure that this partnership could get ready. We held their hand all the way to the opening. We had 15 people here from California in the kitchen for a month just to make sure we are as good if not better than what we have in California.”

Minardi said the new partnership in Alberta will open several locations in the province.

The first restaurants will be fairly large ranging between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet in order to fully express the brand. But Minardi said the company is flexible and can operate in locations of 3,000 to 4,000 square feet.

The Edmonton location is at 5260 Windermere Boulevard NW and is operated by CPK Alberta CEO Naheed Shariff, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant franchising industry, and his mother Samira, CPK Edmonton franchisee with four decades of experience.

“We were first introduced to California Pizza Kitchen in the mid 1990’s and were immediately inspired by its culture and innovation. We’re honored and excited to bring this iconic, forward-thinking brand to Canada for the first time, while simultaneously (contributing) to job creation here in Alberta,” said Naheed. “CPK offers a fun, healthy, alternative experience that guests long for, and we’re thrilled to offer Edmonton residents a taste of that. The brand’s innovative, California-fresh cuisine combined with the benevolent culture of the people truly solidified the deal.”

https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...th-plans-to-expand-nationwide-interview/

Concept might have worked in the 80s/90s but seems like it's kind of late for the concept in Canada.

[CivicBlues]

[SpongeG]

they have California Pizza Kitchen in Mexico. I think i had it once in San Francisco, it wasn't mind blowing.

[WarrenC12]

Vancouver has pretty good pizza selection from high to low end. I can't see that chain performing too well here.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Vancouver has pretty good pizza selection from high to low end. I can't see that chain performing too well here.

There's way more on their menu in the US than just pizza. If they replicate it here, and can offer consistent quality, they could do well (assuming they don't chose dumb locations).

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they have California Pizza Kitchen in Mexico. I think i had it once in San Francisco, it wasn't mind blowing.

I had it recently in Mexico City. They have pizzas for $120mex after 6pm - a pretty good deal. It was ok, the service though was terrible.

As for Alberta, good luck. They've been losing a lot of big chains there - Chilis, Red Robin...

Ron.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

$7.50 for a tomato and cheese sandwich?

I don't want to live in this world anymore....

Interesting, but Pret in London is pretty cheap, before Canadian-GBP conversion of course! Two price points listed on the Pret items in the UK, with the cheaper one as take-away("to-go" here). For example, a "Smoked Salmon & Soft Cheese on Pret's Gluten Free Bread" sandwich there costs GBP3.99 take-away and GBP4.80 dine-in. There are also more "exotic" fares, such as crawfish sandwiches, and much better and healthier selection of salad packs.

Hopefully prices can come down here when they eventually open up more chains.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Parents owned Boston Pizza franchises and he also does Browns Socialhouse in Edmonton.



https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...th-plans-to-expand-nationwide-interview/

Concept might have worked in the 80s/90s but seems like it's kind of late for the concept in Canada.

The CPK in bellevue is sitting on a piece of land that is part parking lot and next to a lot of redevelopment (new W hotel, AC Hotel along with bellevue squares expansions etc). It probably doesn't fit with the vibe of the area anymore as well. IIRC Northgate is also seeing some redevelopment with the rapid transit expanding north along the I5 corridor.

CPK and other american chains would never be successful in Vancouver proper. Cactus/Earls/Joeys have a lock on that chain category providing a supposed high end experience with consistent, average food. I could however see CPK along with something like Cheesecake factory open in Langley. The Olive Garden is wildly successful there with long waits, which i find amazing considering their pasta dishes are AS EXPENSIVE as most of the fine dining italian places downtown... (way more expensive then their US locations).

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Jägerhof Restaurant in North Van
The Old Bavaria Haus Restaurant in New West
Bavaria Restaurant in Abbotsford
Kaisereck Deli on Granville Island

will do for the 3 years it takes to complete the new Alpen Club.

Those places are hardly what I am referring to. Even the Alpen club was frankly nothing great.

Not speaking to the quality but look at a place like WVRST in Toronto. Big space with fun atmosphere etc. Not a whole in the wall restaurant.

[SpongeG]

Popeyes is opening inside MEtropolis next to the bay. I wonder if its possible for them to add an outside entrance? It seems like an odd location inside the mall.

2022-08-05_07-50-34 by snub_you, on Flickr

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Popeyes is opening inside MEtropolis next to the bay. I wonder if its possible for them to add an outside entrance? It seems like an odd location inside the mall.

I'm never at Metropolis so I'm just looking at Google Maps/mall directory map but there seems to have been an exterior door for Sekai Udon Bar when that was open. Assuming they have both units next to HBC then they would have an exterior door.

That PLK Holdings group has a strange mix of master franchises Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Paramount Fine Foods (Lebanese), and Yogurty's

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Popeyes is opening inside MEtropolis next to the bay. I wonder if its possible for them to add an outside entrance? It seems like an odd location inside the mall.

The food court is upstairs and a touch over from this. Not so odd to add a food place.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I'm never at Metropolis so I'm just looking at Google Maps/mall directory map but there seems to have been an exterior door for Sekai Udon Bar when that was open. Assuming they have both units next to HBC then they would have an exterior door.

I just double checked on google maps and yes Sekai Udon Bar had an exterior door - and the interior hoarding is covering that exact spot.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Sheba

The food court is upstairs and a touch over from this. Not so odd to add a food place.




I just double checked on google maps and yes Sekai Udon Bar had an exterior door - and the interior hoarding is covering that exact spot.

I meant in the sense that why not in a spot on kingsway itself not inside a mall, inconvenient for the area.

Poor Hudsons Bay gonna smell all greasy now.