City Council says ‘cheers’ to Bay Street brewpub
In a unanimous decision Thursday night at City Hall, Council voted to approve the rezoning requested by the proponents of the Moon Under Water brewpub.
As covered previously here, Don and Bonnie Bradley hope to open their combination brewery, restaurant and pub October 1 in the former Direct Buy location on Bay Street near the foot of the Point Ellice Bridge.
Councillor Chris Coleman (right) asks co-owner Bonnie Bradley a question regarding Moon Under Water's rezoning application. Photo by Robert Randall © VibrantVictoria.ca.
Following on the positive recommendation of City staff, Council said the granting of a Liquor Primary license, a requirement for the pub, would have little or no negative impact on the neighbourhood.
When one Councillor mentioned there are no known problems associated with local English-style pubs, Councillor John Luton joked there indeed was a problem–not enough of them.
Councillor Chris Coleman mentioned the pub’s limited drink menu, which would only feature beers, ciders and scotches. Bradley said that the limitation was voluntary and City Staff confirmed that if the pub changed hands, any new owner could open a full-service bar. However, the owners say they wish to cater to a discerning clientele with a smaller selection of quality alcohol, rather than offer what Bradley calls “cheap three-ounce-pour martini-style drinks” that encourage overindulgence.
The pub's name was inspired by a George Orwell article. Image supplied.
The Bradleys were seeking a parking variance in addition to the rezoning. Because bylaws state that there must be one parking space for every three seats, a seven stall variance was requested and granted. Paul Seal, who spoke in support at the Public Hearing noted that the number 14 bus stops right outside the entrance of the proposed 86-seat pub. Denis Oliver was the sole dissenting citizen at the packed hearing, stating that Victoria has more Liquor Primary licenses per capita than any other BC city and should therefore approve no more. A comment from the Burnside-Gorge community meeting said a return to industrial use would be preferable for the Rock Bay site. Bonnie Bradley disagreed, saying the brewery actually returns the former home furnishings buying club to a manufacturing use more suited to its M-3 industrial zoning.
Bonnie Bradley told Council the pub would be a welcome addition to the Rock Bay neighbourhood and plans on having business-friendly soup and sandwich lunch specials for the numerous workers in the area. Council was shown a list signed by employees of neighbouring businesses endorsing the pub.
To discuss the Moon Under Water Pub on the VibrantVictoria.ca discussion forum, click here.
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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's Moon Under Water Pub Brewery | Victoria | 350-B Bay St. thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
amor de cosmos
Feb 13, 2012 at 8:51 amIt didn't look like trouble last time I was there.
G-Man
Feb 13, 2012 at 10:31 amHave they not always been closed on Sunday and Monday??
mysage
Feb 13, 2012 at 12:03 pmQuote: What pub closes on a Sunday? I smell trouble.
Hope not but if this is strictly a cost saving move (and nothing wrong with saving costs) it seems like an exercise in "false economy" to me.
Strictly guess work here but:
A quick look with some "kitchen table" math show that a guess (based on $ per sq ft in that area) would show that the minimum lease they are paying is around $5000 per month (but I would wager it is much more on a triple net lease).
That means on an annual basis they are paying a $60,000. Divided by 365 days a year means that they are paying $164.38 per day whether they are open or not. Now being closed for 3 days a week x 52 weeks a year means they are closed at a minimum 156 days a year (not including some extra holiday times). At 164.38 x 156 we have a cost of $25,643.28 pa. That is a major loss before they even open the doors - 42.73% of their rent is paid with no chance of off setting it with sales. This calculation does not include other hard costs that they might have (insurance, phone, accounting, salaries, etc) which would increase the per day costs even more. That seems like a bad business model to me.
I hope they are surviving OK as I like the place and go there often but I agree that things are looking very shaky.
Anyone with a restaurant and or accounting background here feel free to weigh in and correct me. I have no background in either but the business side of many things interest me.
Bob Fugger
Feb 13, 2012 at 12:29 pmQuote: Hope not but if this is strictly a cost saving move (and nothing wrong with saving costs) it seems like an exercise in "false economy" to me.
Strictly guess work here but:
A quick look with some "kitchen table" math show that a guess (based on $ per sq ft in that area) would show that the minimum lease they are paying is around $5000 per month (but I would wager it is much more on a triple net lease).
That means on an annual basis they are paying a $60,000. Divided by 365 days a year means that they are paying $164.38 per day whether they are open or not. Now being closed for 3 days a week x 52 weeks a year means they are closed at a minimum 156 days a year (not including some extra holiday times). At 164.38 x 156 we have a cost of $25,643.28 pa. That is a major loss before they even open the doors - 42.73% of their rent is paid with no chance of off setting it with sales. This calculation does not include other hard costs that they might have (insurance, phone, accounting, salaries, etc) which would increase the per day costs even more. That seems like a bad business model to me.
I hope they are surviving OK as I like the place and go there often but I agree that things are looking very shaky.
Anyone with a restaurant and or accounting background here feel free to weigh in and correct me. I have no background in either but the business side of many things interest me.
Are they closed three days per week, now? I thought it was just Sunday & Mondays.
As for your math, it's hard to say - too many variables, including:
Moving their roast beef special to Saturday night may not work out for them - roast beef dinner specials are a Sunday pub staple in Victoria. If it was me, based on my own assumptions/appraisals, I would have closed Saturday day and Sunday day, but opened up at night.
jonny
Feb 13, 2012 at 2:24 pmIf they are covering their variable costs on Sundays than they should be open on Sundays. If they are not, then they should be closed.
