Openings and closings (2006–2008 part 1)

Vancouver · January 1, 2006

[Host's note: to minimise the load on our servers, this topic has been split. The discussion continues from here.]

The lights have been on both yesterday and today at Bis Moreno. The tables appeared set as well Is there a new owner getting ready to open?!?!?!?!?

Cheers!

Edited April 25, 2014 by lesliec
Added host's note (log)

nwyles · January 1, 2006

The lights have been on both yesterday and today at Bis Moreno. The tables appeared set as well Is there a new owner getting ready to open?!?!?!?!?
Cheers!
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The new owner is cleaning up and plotting and scheming.

Prepare for more info soon.

Andrew Morrison · January 1, 2006

Waiterblog will be hosting an "opening soon" blog for the new owners of the old Bis Moreno space. The blog will be made public very soon. :wink:

Vancitygirl · January 1, 2006

OHHHH!

I am so curious.

Vancouver · January 1, 2006

That is great news! I'm looking forward to hearing more details!

Cheers!

Vancouver · January 3, 2006

The location that used to house Al's Soul Food on the corner of Rupert and 1st has a new restaurant called European Village Restaurant. Anyone know anything about this place? Which type of European food does it offer?

Cheers!

ozver · January 3, 2006

the website for the new bis moreno location is Rare one, the name of the locations is explained throughout, sounds like it could be a great place.

kontemporary · January 3, 2006

ahah!! a leak :laugh: :laugh:

regardless, I think Mr. Morrison has gotten to it, and removed access to the food/wine/service concept articles which I secretly read and enjoyed very much. A rare one indeed :smile:

Andrew Morrison · January 3, 2006

Sneaky fellow. You've just looked up my dress. :laugh:

The blog will be made public very soon.

Edited January 3, 2006 by Andrew Morrison (log)

Vancitygirl · January 3, 2006

Damn!

I missed the leak. Looking forward to the reveal Andrew. I wait with hunger pangs.

Andrew Morrison · January 3, 2006

It wasn't a "leak". Someone just figured out the working URL. When it's done, it will be available through waiterblog. :wink:

Sam Salmon · January 3, 2006

From The Asian Post classifieds

"For Lease

Fully operational restaurant/pub/kitchen.

Excellent opportunity for right person(s).

Good lease, small Vancouver Island logging/fishing community.

Available immediately

For more info contact Mark 250.761.4275"

From what I can find it's the historic Zeballos Hotel

fud · January 3, 2006

Wow

How many people know where Zeballos is? I think I passed through there on a campign trip on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Link to MAP HERE

How much they asking? It does have fairly good access to fresh fish from the geography I think.

transfattyacid · January 3, 2006

the website for the new bis moreno location is Rare one, the name of the locations is explained throughout, sounds like it could be a great place.
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I had a sneek peek at the blog on the link, before it went all 404 that is.

The Rare person wrote something to the effect that they/he/she will be hanging picture`s of the site previous occupants as a honourable and respectful foodie graveyard in a tasteful photographic format . Giving the new tenants some thing other than IL Giardino`s customers to look at on slow nights.

Maybe they have better luck than Bis Morano,( live by the media and you shall surely die by it ). Etoile, hmmm. why did no one go there then but crowd into parkside now ? i could go on , but i won`t.

I wish them luck in premises that would make a roaring trade as a dry cleaners.

oh, and Happy New Year :]

kissmekate · January 3, 2006

I have been doing some very preliminary work with a new concept restaurant in the heart of the downtown eastside called Butirmoth. Owner Terri Storey was part of the opening team of Wild Rice. The other owner is from California originally. They are a ways away from being ready and/or for me to actually start working for them but in the mean time they have a good blog! Had a great read over Christmas. Looks like they are frustrated with money issues, but have gone ahead and bought the building, now they just have to come up with the financing for the restaurant.

Very early days yet but fun to follow their adventures. http://www.butirmoth.com/blog/

snacky_cat · January 4, 2006

I have been doing some very preliminary work with a new concept restaurant in the heart of the downtown eastside called Butirmoth.

Butter-moth? Boo-TEER-moth? BOO-ter-moth? Boo-TAIR-moth? Help!

At least when you Google it, it's the only thing that comes up! I'm surprised how few business owners think of Google-rarity when deciding upon a name.

*Deborah* · January 4, 2006

It makes me think of bitumen though... :unsure:

Andrew Morrison · January 4, 2006

Boo-Ter-Moth. You know, like the sandwich spread. :huh: Cate beat me to it, but I've made mention of both blogs in my column this week. It's on pre-opening marketing.

A sneak peek at the opening para:

It used to be that when you opened a restaurant you’d just build the thing, make sure the ovens worked, unlock the door, and then wait for your first table. If you were media savvy at all you might splurge on a newspaper ad to announce your arrival on the scene, but most would just hope for the best. Amazingly, some still trundle that doomed route to suffer the consequences of anonymity, but others hire PR people and consultants to plan an opening strategy and reserve a chunk of their start-up budget for glossy marketing. But not everyone has the cash to that, and hope doesn‘t guarantee bums in seats on opening day. Hope, at least in the restaurant business, is dumb.

snacky_cat · January 4, 2006

Boo-Ter-Moth. You know, like the sandwich spread.

Mmm. Butirmoth. With two patio light shake-fuls of moth in every creamy jar.

Their blog makes for an interesting read, especially the post about the building's tenants. I also liked the "I feel like I need to head out into the woods and do some acid or something…" quote. I would definitely eat at a restaurant whose owners espouse this philosophy, and I'd order the mushrooms.

kontemporary · January 4, 2006

Boo-Ter-Moth. You know, like the sandwich spread.
Mmm. Butirmoth. With two patio light shake-fuls of moth in every creamy jar.
Their blog makes for an interesting read, especially the post about the building's tenants. I also liked the "I feel like I need to head out into the woods and do some acid or something…" quote. I would definitely eat at a restaurant whose owners espouse this philosophy, and I'd order the mushrooms.
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chefs have to get their creativity from somewhere :laugh:

makanmakan · January 4, 2006

Boo-Ter-Moth. You know, like the sandwich spread.
Mmm. Butirmoth. With two patio light shake-fuls of moth in every creamy jar.
Their blog makes for an interesting read, especially the post about the building's tenants. I also liked the "I feel like I need to head out into the woods and do some acid or something…" quote. I would definitely eat at a restaurant whose owners espouse this philosophy, and I'd order the mushrooms.
←

at least when the munchies hit, you don't have to go far :laugh:

Vancitygirl · January 5, 2006

Does anyone know what is going in across from Kits Workout? 4th avenue between Cyprus and Maple next to the Kohinoor Tandori.
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Solved my own mystery. Arian Kebab House opened. I went in today and the concept seems to be fast-food Persian. It smelt great, some lamb shanks were simmering away. All sorts of Persion rice, french fries!, obviously Kebabs.

Not much atmosphere, but the prices looked very reasonable.

Finally Persion Food in Kits.

I'll post more once I have been.

Edited January 5, 2006 by Vancitygirl (log)

shelora · January 5, 2006

Walked by the Normandy on Granville today. They are selling off the last vestiges of their restaurant salvaged from the fire.

Nice booths still available.

The last hold out of South Granville restaurant history is sadly gone for good. Szasz came before them as did the Aristocrat where I luckily managed to buy a few plates with "Risty" their monocoled mascot. Those plates become vehicles for our weekend breakfasts. Two eggs scrambled with hashbrowns, brown toast and coffee. Priceless.

Edited January 5, 2006 by shelora (log)

shelora · January 5, 2006

Having returned home to Victoria, two restaurants have firmly closed their doors.

Bravo on Wharf, a difficult space, but they made it work the longest of all the restaurant incarnations there. Sorry to see them go.

Herald St. Caffe is also gone. That is one amazing space and a killer location.

With a lot of coin, coupled with some smart and creative people, someone out there I'm sure, could put the magic mojo back on Herald St.

Andrew Morrison · January 5, 2006

Wow. :huh: That's crazy! For those who don't make it over to Vic often, this was once our capital's equivalent of say, Le Crocodile. So many great chefs and servers sharpened their skills there (eg. Jeff Keenliside). Seeing it go under is a big shock as once upon a time it was one of the best joints in town (and one of the most sought after waitron gigs). How'd it go down? I went last year (wrote some juvenalia about it here) and I never thought I'd see the day.

I just hope the new incarnation of HSC changes the freakin' brand.

RIP. :sad: