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Soprano's Karaoke Bar and Grill | Victoria | 1961 Douglas St. (Closed in 2013)


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#21 Mike K.

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Posted 01 January 2014 - 08:55 PM

Oh right, I had forgotten Sopranos was the second karaoke location for the owner. And what was the bar before? Icehouse?


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#22 G-Man

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Posted 01 January 2014 - 09:20 PM

Yup and before that the Crown an' I. Both were lovely establishments.


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#23 Holden West

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Posted 01 January 2014 - 11:28 PM

... but the lease was up and he plans to convert the space to more rooms.

 

That seems so bizarre that ground floor rooms in a budget hotel would bring more revenue than a full liquor license. I mean,  some hotels like the old Kings Hotel or the Monty's hotel--the pubs downstairs brought in so much revenue they hardly bothered even renting the rooms.


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#24 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 02 January 2014 - 06:43 AM

That seems so bizarre that ground floor rooms in a budget hotel would bring more revenue than a full liquor license. I mean,  some hotels like the old Kings Hotel or the Monty's hotel--the pubs downstairs brought in so much revenue they hardly bothered even renting the rooms.

 

I think in those hotels, they realized the balance between having a full-on bar(s) in the lobby, vs. renting rooms where people expected some quiet, was challenging.  Whereas with 1961 Douglas, the building is designed so that there are only 5 of the 85 rooms over Sopranos and Sopranos patrons enjoy their own parking lot, and an entrance that can is thoroughly separate from the hotel patrons.  Red Lion Inn has a similar set-up.


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#25 weirdie

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Posted 05 January 2014 - 08:58 PM

I've been told by a former employee that some (if not the majority) of Soprano's staff weren't told of the closure until new years eve. "Happy New Year! Good luck finding a job during the low season!" That would suck big time.



#26 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 05 January 2014 - 09:46 PM

I've been told by a former employee that some (if not the majority) of Soprano's staff weren't told of the closure until new years eve. "Happy New Year! Good luck finding a job during the low season!" That would suck big time.


Absolutely true. But all were paid their severance pay and accumulated holiday pay on Jan 1st. So long-time full timers took home over $4k and even some long time part timers took home over $2k on the 1st. The requiremt is either notice or severance, not both, so it was all done above board, not a bankruptcy type closure. If they don't find jobs right away they can go on EI just like any layoff. Last I heard 1/2 had new jobs already.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#27 Holden West

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Posted 05 January 2014 - 10:21 PM

I'm still surprised that a few ground floor suites would bring in more revenue than a bar/nightclub/restaurant. I understand some sports teams stay at the hotel so the year-round occupancy is probably better than most hotels but how often are these new suites going to be occupied? Or is the owner just glad to be able to wash his hands of all the "dive bar" hassles?


"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#28 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 05 January 2014 - 10:35 PM

Maybe a bit of both Holden. The new owner is the former owner of the Sidney Travellodge with Charles Dickens inside. He is almost 80 maybe he's got some crazy logic/wisdom.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#29 Sparky

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Posted 05 January 2014 - 10:54 PM

I thought the new owners are Wally and Owen from the Red Lion. Have I been wrong about that?

#30 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 06 January 2014 - 12:07 AM

No Wally stabbed all the staff at Red Lion so they sold 1961 Douglas off last spring.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#31 weirdie

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Posted 06 January 2014 - 05:49 AM

Absolutely true. But all were paid their severance pay and accumulated holiday pay on Jan 1st. So long-time full timers took home over $4k and even some long time part timers took home over $2k on the 1st. The requiremt is either notice or severance, not both, so it was all done above board, not a bankruptcy type closure. If they don't find jobs right away they can go on EI just like any layoff. Last I heard 1/2 had new jobs already.

 Yes, and there are those who hadn't worked there for 12 months who are only eligible for a weeks pay and those who don't qualify for EI for whatever the reasons.  It's good to know that so many people were able to find new jobs right away. My friend on the other hand had no severence, no EI, had a roomate skip out on him at the end of December without notice, and is now on the hook for the entirety of their rent with no way of paying it. I think the situation really shows a total lack of respect given to staff members from management by not giving them the opportunity to find employment on their own terms, not because they've been shoved into it. Just because Soprano's management followed the law, doesn't mean what they did was ethically above board.



#32 spanky123

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Posted 06 January 2014 - 07:43 AM

^ There is a balance here. My guess is that if management had told staff ahead of time that they would be closing then it would have been very hard to staff over the holidays. They would have saved lots in severance pay if people left on their own but it probably would have been more than offset by reduced revenue.

 

All you can ask any employer to do is be fair and follow the law. In the hospitality industry it sounds like management here treated staff better than 80% of the competition. The fact that your friend had other things going on in his life which put him in a bind is unfortunate, but not his employers fault or liability.



#33 sdwright.vic

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Posted 06 January 2014 - 08:50 AM

^^ Also wondering why he would not be eligible for EI... since its based on the average of year last 12 month's, not your Larry employer.
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#34 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 06 January 2014 - 10:12 AM

^ There is a balance here. My guess is that if management had told staff ahead of time that they would be closing then it would have been very hard to staff over the holidays. They would have saved lots in severance pay if people left on their own but it probably would have been more than offset by reduced revenue.

 

All you can ask any employer to do is be fair and follow the law. In the hospitality industry it sounds like management here treated staff better than 80% of the competition. The fact that your friend had other things going on in his life which put him in a bind is unfortunate, but not his employers fault or liability.

 

This.  Severance over notice gives everyone the opportunity to look for new jobs, over just working it out.    Hey, if you were employed there less than 6 months, you are maybe a bit transiant.  Word on the street this morning, everyone that went looking for a job has one now.  It's hospitality, no big deal!


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#35 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 08:39 AM

Here's the plans to make the club into 10 more hotel suites.

 

https://victoria.civ...glas Street.pdf


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#36 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 22 March 2015 - 12:21 PM

And it's underway.

 

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<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#37 jonny

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Posted 23 March 2015 - 07:30 AM

Maybe they'll finally take down the Soprano's sign.


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#38 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 23 March 2015 - 07:35 AM

Maybe they'll finally take down the Soprano's sign.

 

It seems odd that 15 months later, it's still up.  This one on the Discovery side, they gave about an 80% effort on, then quit:

 

11011251_10152697203725894_6782403600713165924_n.jpg


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#39 jonny

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Posted 23 March 2015 - 07:56 AM

The hotel is owned by Kimpton, isn't it?



#40 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 23 March 2015 - 08:08 AM

The hotel is owned by Kimpton, isn't it?

 

No.  Jerry/Gerry Conrad.  Former owner of Charles Dickens Pub and whatever that hotel is in Sidney. 

 

Kimpton owns the former Travellers Inn/apartment at Queens and Blanshard.


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

 



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