8817 replies to this topic

[Redd42]

Drove down Tillicum in Esquimalt today. The Gorge Pub is no more, just a pile of rubble.

 

Sad to see my old local go. 

[Redd42]

While I'm talking about the Gorge-Tillicum neighbourhood, Il Greco restaurant has moved around the corner from Tillicum to Gorge, where there last was a coffee shop. 

 

The building in the original Il Greco location is to be torn down and redeveloped. 

 

Looks like Il Greco and the health food store are the only 2 retail tenants to continue in that location. 

 

Having run a business while a building is being totally redone, I feel the pain of that food store! Memories of trying to talk to customers over the sound of construction. And the "WE ARE STIIL IN OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION" signs.

[Kapten Kapsell]

It appears that Good Earth Coffee will take over the old Starbucks location at Bay Centre Mall.

[Darren14]

It appears that Good Earth Coffee will take over the old Starbucks location at Bay Centre Mall.

 

That sign has been there for months... i think it's them hoping to find a franchisee, but not 100% sure 

[justaguy]

The Beach House and the house next door to it has sold to a developer, Mike Geric Construction. Waterfont Condos anyone?

[Darren14]

That sign has been there for months... i think it's them hoping to find a franchisee, but not 100% sure 

 

Sign says to Franchise your own good earth so who knows 

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[29er Radio]

Good Afternoon Vibrant Victorians

Our latest Table Nine Podcast about the food and beverage business is out for your listening pleasure. This show we are joined by Cristen Dallas who is one of the founder/owners of Pizzeria Prima Strada and she shares tales of how they came to open a pizza joint and the challenges of running a multi location operation. Hope you enjoy the show and we love your comments https://bit.ly/3PIhT4p 

[Kapten Kapsell]

The former cafe on the NW corner of Fort and Quadra (diagonally across from Island Blue; it’s been many food service establishments over the years) has been leased to a new outfit called J and M Asian Food Mart; it will be opening soon.

[Matt R.]

Came into town this week to see my man Beau at Western Gentleman to tighten up my fade, and of course stopped for lunch next door at the Marble Arch. $16 for a rally great combo plate and a can of Coke, tax included. Love how clean the place is, and how fresh the food always is. Never a miss at this place!

They were almost full inside, a few takeout orders and 4 Skip pickups in the time I was sitting.

[Sparky]

^ I’m still a push over for their egg foo yung chow mein ….. best on the planet.

[Matt R.]

Combo c, half fried rice half chow mein. This and the Dutch bakery are my two key stops in the city if time permits. Nobody doesn’t love beef croquettes for dinner.

[Mike K.]

Canadian Brewhouse is opening on Monday at Uptown. It will feature a bowling alley and batting cage that Banquet was supposed to have (same company at CB). Here's a 2019 article on the proposal: https://victoria.cit...tre-in-saanich/

[Victoria Watcher]

Interesting.

[RPPB]

Where are they located in the mall?

[Mike K.]

Near the H&M store, at the mid-block cut-through to Highway 1.

[Victoria Watcher]

Bowling is back in Saanich — and on nearly the exact spot where the last alley was torn down 15 years ago.

 

Six lanes for 10-pin bowling are slated to open Monday as part of the Canadian Brewhouse pub and restaurant at Uptown Shopping Centre.

 

The lanes will be a feature of the 600-seat establishment on the second floor along Uptown Boulevard. It will also have a large rooftop patio and three batting cages.

 

Edmonton-based Canadian Brewhouse has 43 locations in Canada, including 26 in Alberta, catering to sports fans with large television screens as well as families with seatings for children from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Bowling fans saw the sport slip away in 2006, when the 10-pin Mayfair Lanes in Victoria near the Saanich border closed and the building was torn down. It remains an empty lot next to Mayfair shopping centre.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-uptown-5464102

[Sparky]

Let's Bowl

The TC article mentioned that the new bowling lanes at Canadian Brewhouse are situated close to the spot that Town and Country Lanes was located back in the day.

As Robbie Robertson phrased it in "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me. https://www.youtube....h?v=4KP9PNSUME4

 

Sparky (that's me) picked up his first corporate gig (read no more lawn mowing) at this bowling alley at the ripe age of 14. I assumed the position of "pin chaser" where my duties were to clear the log jams that happened from time to time in the automated pin setting machines, and run the mop over the approach between league change at 9:00 pm.

It was a 4 hour gig from 7:00-11:00 on Tuesday and Thursday nights and all day Saturday. It paid .85 cents an hour. My cheques came from Toronto. That was big dough back then. It was also where I turned from a boy to a young man.

 

I learned more than just fixing the machines behind the pins...it was also about learning about people letting off steam, mixing with others and having fun after their workday. There was "league" play every night and was full to the brim. There were two time slots 7 and 9 pm.

These were good times and I am grateful for that. I am also grateful that bowling is returning to our midst.

 

I can't wait.

 

T&C Bowling Lanes circa 1964

[Victoria Watcher]

^ awesome!

 

 

600 seats eh?  Would that make this the largest restaurant/pub in the entire CRD (if you discount the Strath and Empress Hotel)?

 

Hard to imagine many of those seats being filled dayside or weeknights.

 

 

It's like the Rec Room chain.  Cavernous and empty most of the time

 

 

Saturday night at 10pm is rocking though.   But most patrons are under 30.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2022 - 05:38 AM.

[Mike K.]

All we need now is the TC to change its logo.

[Sparky]

^ Ha! Good Luck.