Frank Luba
Province
A new, upscale beachside eatery will be coming soon to the West End if the Vancouver park board approves the deal tomorrow. The popular Cactus Club chain plans to open the new restaurant in June, 2011 near the corner of Denman and Davie streets. It will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a takeout concession offering a wide variety of lower-priced fare. — PNG file
West End residents and visitors will both get a new, upscale beachside eatery — if the Vancouver park board approves a lucrative deal with Cactus Restaurants Ltd. when it meets tomorrow.
The restaurant would replace the present concession stand near the corner of Denman and Davie streets.
Under the deal, the parent company of the popular Cactus Club Cafe chain — which has 20 locations in B.C. and Alberta, generating $115 million annually in sales — would give the park board a guaranteed annual rent of $240,000, plus an additional four per cent of all revenues over $4 million annually.
The current concession had a net profit of $63,000 in 2009.
Board chairman Aaron Jasper told The Province he had concerns about the proposed English Bay Bistro when he was with the West End Residents Association, but he supports the proposal now.
“They build it, we own it and they operate it there,” said Jasper. “It’s actually a really good deal.
“These are revenues that we can put back into the services we provide,” he said. “For us, it’s a win-win.”
The proposed agreement would be reviewed after the first five years, with Cactus having the option for additional five-year options.
The board would also reimburse Cactus $50,000 plus financing costs annually for five years for site improvements outside the leased area.
The restaurant would have 79 indoor seats, 70 outdoor seats and 48 outdoor seats for patrons that wish to use the new facility’s takeout concession.
According to a staff report, “they intend to offer lower-priced fare with a far greater selection than traditional concession fare.”
Construction would begin after Labour Day and the new restaurant would open in June 2011.
There was also positive news about two other park board operations, the Bloedel Conservatory and the Stanley Park Children’s Farmyard, which were facing closures because of budget shortfalls.
Jasper said several groups attended a question-and-answer session about the Bloedel Conservatory, and the Van Dusen Garden Association is working on a proposal to take over the facility with the Friends of Bloedel group.
Another four groups attended an information session about the farmyard.
“I am optimistic we are going to see some proposals,” said Jasper. Deadline for accepting those proposals is April 30.
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