[Soundy]

Actually, opening for dinner tomorrow night (Fri. Mar. 2): the new Cactus Club English Bay. Beach Ave. at the foot of Denman (right across from The Boathouse). Been in there off and on since mid-July installing the surveillance cameras. Place is really nice, and it's gonna be THE hot spot for fireworks.

https://img-s.foursquare.com/pix/cazSLyXkfBkfv4izKoQfCo_dCeuRrQaDmognt5zQSTk.jpg

https://img-s.foursquare.com/pix/DP3WH11BJS2XVGWVZK1XWCDV1MYYQAVZHW4DDKN2L40QHNAV.j pg

https://img-s.foursquare.com/pix/ZD2AENXMBKGDGW2JCR35DPXUPVCLST5I14GWEHTV4TD0DO4Z.j pg

[donjalapeno]

probably the most expensive cactus club built....looks amazing.

[Sky_High]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/426025_254304064653575_154825204601462_577651_1694 382597_n.jpg

[shawnly1000]

probably the most expensive cactus club built....looks amazing.

Bentall location cost around 12 million, don't think this one would be up there, but who knows.

[donjalapeno]

^ yeah totally forgot about the bentall location but im pretty sure this one is has the most expensive piece of land.

[Soundy]

Also fully built to LEED environmental standards (http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19), so yeah, there's a lotta money in this place. "Live" roof, herb garden, waste containment, the whole bit.

[Doubl3_H]

U wrk for bridge?
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[buddy]

waiting for pictures of hot hostesses/waitresses ...

[Soundy]

U wrk for bridge?
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

Me? No... LPS. We did the cameras. :)

[pintoBC_3sgte]

Me? No... LPS. We did the cameras. :)
you do the cams in kelowna?

[Soundy]

Yup - we do all the Cactuses. Why, you want to know where the hidden cams are? :)

[donjalapeno]

There's hidden cameras at cactus???? :pokerface:

I work at cactus :pokerface:

[Soundy]

Heheheheh... nope, no hidden cams... really! :pokerface:

[pintoBC_3sgte]

I probably met you then. Flat Black van with a fart cannon? :p
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Soundy]

That was us :) That's Dave's van - he's the shorter one of us two techs :P

We're back to finish the outside cams once the weather is more amenable.

[pintoBC_3sgte]

Cool. You'll know which one is me because I'm the only Chinese one in the kitchen lol
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[hal0g0dv2]

wow nice location

[red_2]

So is cactus owned by 1 guy or is it like a franchise operation like say Boston Pizza?

Didnt know the Bentall one cost frickin $12 mil they must be doing good...

[subordinate]

I think Cactus is backed by a handful of people.

But the face that had the idea behind Cactus is Richard Jaffray.

I think I read that Cactus is related to Earls and Browns SocialHouse. (Related in terms of financial backing).

[shawnly1000]

"Browns Socialhouse owner Scott Morison proved when he co-founded what is now the 20-location Cactus Club Cafe chain that he can envision and execute a winning restaurant formula.
The ambitious 44-year-old is at it again, 23 years after he and then-co-worker Richard Jaffray left Earls Restaurants Ltd. to found Cucamongas Café, an ice cream and sandwich shop.
The duo sold Cucamongas in 1988 and opened the first Cactus Club, in North Vancouver, thanks in large part to 50% financing from Earls owner Stan Fuller."

Scott Morison profile (http://www.bivinteractive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1473:scott-morison-profile&catid=22:profiles&Itemid=39)

Love how a lot of businesses in Vancouver seem like they're competing with each other but they're actually under the same ownership

[Soundy]

As I understand it, Scotty left Cactus under, shall we say, not-entirely-amicable terms... now it's kind of an ongoing competition.

[Soundy]

Now Open: Cactus Club Cafe at English Bay | Cactus Club Cafe (http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/2012/03/now-open-cactus-club-cafe-at-english-bay/)

[shawnly1000]

No comments on the eye candy yet? LOL

[Soundy]

Comment later... busy fapping.

[LiquidTurbo]

With the property that expensive, how do they make money?

[Soundy]

With the property that expensive, how do they make money?

Have you looked at their prices lately?? :troll:

But seriously... as I recall, it's still Parks Board land, and Cactus just rents the space; the Parks Board was looking several years ago to put a high-end restaurant there, but had very specific requirements (had to fit in, be built to green standards, etc.), and Cactus won the bid

Here it is: Cactus Club wins English Bay spot - British Columbia - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/22/bc-english-bay-cactus-club.html)

The Vancouver Park Board, which manages the site for the city, is guaranteed nearly $250,000 a year in badly-needed cash from the operator once the new facility opens in the summer of 2011.

And: English Bay may see new cafe on old concession site | CTV British Columbia (http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100322/bc_english_bay_restaurant_100322?hub=BritishColumb iaHome)

Revenue from the bistro will be $1.2 million over five years, which would come from the restaurant's set rent of $240,000 a year, according to a March 12 Vancouver Parks & Recreation report.

[donjalapeno]

wow 20g per month is great for rent....i thought it would be in the 40s or 50s per month...i wonder what the restaurant will make in food and bev on a busy summer saturday....im guessing 40-50g

[shawnly1000]

wow 20g per month is great for rent....i thought it would be in the 40s or 50s per month...i wonder what the restaurant will make in food and bev on a busy summer saturday....im guessing 40-50g

I'm sure there was a "donation" in one form or another LOL

[Soundy]

Well, it's a small store, I think something like 120-130 seats... but it's sure to be insanely busy in the summer. There's almost as much seating on the patio as there is inside, and they have the walk-up concession as well.

[beanzzz]

The restaurant seats a surprising 170 people on the street level and 104 people on the beach level patio.

http://www.wevancouver.com/news/141226163.html?mobile=true

I was there yesterday and it didn't seem like there was that many seats. The Coal Harbour location is supposed to have 500 seats inside, and 200 seats on the patio.

[Soundy]

Coal Harbour will be massive - I've seen the space, the best word for it is "cavernous".

[bcrdukes]

Whereabouts will the Coal Harbour location be?

[shawnly1000]

Convention Centre

[Soundy]

Right beside the Olympic Cauldron.

[Soundy]

It's the separate building on the other side of the cauldron from the Convention Center.

[bcrdukes]

^
Nice!

Any ETA on when that will be completed?

[Mr.HappySilp]

Location is good but food will be crap..........

[jackmeister]

wow 20g per month is great for rent....i thought it would be in the 40s or 50s per month...i wonder what the restaurant will make in food and bev on a busy summer saturday....im guessing 40-50g

20k/month + 4% of revenue after 4 million per year.

http://vancouver.ca/parks/board/2010/100322/EnglishBayBistro.pdf

[donjalapeno]

thanks friggin crazy.....im guessing they'll make over 4mil a year easily....even if they make 4.5mil its still 180g extra on top of the 240g regular rent.

[westopher]

Its pretty disappointing that the earls/joeys/local/cactus group is taking all this nice real estate all over vancouver/everywhere in western Canada. I mean, the food is fine-ish, but it would be nice to get some great food to go with these great locations.

[Slifer]

Pretty sure the Cactus at Broadway/Granville made 8+mil last year. I'm guessing this one will probably make at least 15-20mil.

[jackmeister]

I'm just happy we're benefiting from better food (vs concession) and the city makes $ out of it.

[Supafly]

I'm just happy we're benefiting from better food (vs concession) and the city makes $ out of it.

I don't know about you....but I personally think Cactus is nearing comcession food served on a ceramic dish....:heckno:

[Ri2]

Concession was a rip off anyway.
Awesome location, love it!
Wonder what the bathrooms are gonna look like....

[donjalapeno]

I don't know about you....but I personally think Cactus is nearing comcession food served on a ceramic dish....:heckno:

yesss...


to mention a couple basic items...

a spinach salad with fresh spinach, goat cheese , balsamic , green apple and fresh beets is damn near concession food.

So is a 4 mushroom hunters chicken with flash fried string beans and herbed fingerling potatoes.

:rukidding:

[westopher]

Sorry man....the quality of menu items can't be determined off of a menu description. They aren't going to write "chemical coated peruvian imported spinach, cheap balsamic, processed nuclear warfare survivable goat cheese salad"

[jackmeister]

I don't know about you....but I personally think Cactus is nearing comcession food served on a ceramic dish....:heckno:

That BBQ Duck/Chicken Sandwich would make an awesome concession item :fuckyea:

[Meowjin]

what in the fuck is fingerling potatoes.

it's just fucking tiny potatoes that are fucking fried.

[Slifer]

^Food there are ridiculously overpriced.

[Soundy]

Concession was a rip off anyway.
Awesome location, love it!
Wonder what the bathrooms are gonna look like....

Pretty understated, actually... if you want an acid trip without actually dropping acid, go across the street to Milestones and check out their bathrooms.

[beanzzz]

what in the fuck is fingerling potatoes.

it's just fucking tiny potatoes that are fucking fried.

Oven baked, tossed with feta, fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, chervil and thyme, at least from what I remember. Considering that Rob Feenie is the Food Concept artist for Cactus Club alot of the new menu items or ingredients won't appeal to everyone, yet considering their constantly opening new locations every couple months and in prime locations, they have to be doing something right.

[Soundy]

The Hunter Chicken is fucking amazing, I highly recommend it. If you don't plan to eat for a few days, try the butternut squash ravioli - I think it's around 50,000,000 delicious calories.

[westopher]

Oven baked, tossed with feta, fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, chervil and thyme, at least from what I remember.
Are you hired as their revscene marketing director? All cactus club has, is 5/10 quality food, 7-8/10 quality chicks, and a recognizable name. The restaurant industry is nothing but marketing and familiarity, and sex appeal. Most people have no interest in quality food, or any kind of responsible food production going into their over stuffed stomachs, as is proved by these chains taking over.

[donjalapeno]

Are you hired as their revscene marketing director? All cactus club has, is 5/10 quality food, 7-8/10 quality chicks, and a recognizable name. The restaurant industry is nothing but marketing and familiarity, and sex appeal. Most people have no interest in quality food, or any kind of responsible food production going into their over stuffed stomachs, as is proved by these chains taking over.

before i start im not saying all this because i work there, im just saying it because cactus is one of the most generous, understanding and organized companies Ive ever worked for and i just want to get my opinion across to people.


If guests didnt have interest in quality food they wouldnt keep coming back for more. People line up at 11am to get in for lunch on most days. Are chefs come in at 5am everyday and start prepping for next day. Our chicken breasts are left in a brine for 24hrs for maximum tenderness and juicyness. All our seafood is QUALITY ocean wise seafood. Our steaks are fresh grain-fed Alberta Certified Angus Beef, which is hand selected from the top percentile of beef in Western Canada.

Now,

We could get are seafood from a Chinese distributor for less but the quality will never be like Ocean Wise certified seafood. We could get are Beef imported from the states but the quality would be shit, thats what restaurants like Montanas does. If you dont believe me go to a Montanas around 530PM on a friday night and then go to a Cactus Club at 530 and see the difference quality makes or lets not even use Cactus as a example lets use a private owned place like Stephos on davie, they get fresh local ingredients too and the quality things that are important that are limited in Canada they import from Greece. They won a million awards and everytime you go by people are waiting in the cold to get in for some quality food.

I wont even get started on the sex appeal and familiarity jazz, im a hospitality management student and i could go on and on and on and on about this lol

just my 0.02cents

[bcrdukes]

IMO, it's the whole package that Cactus Club offers which is why people keep coming back.

1. The food isn't exactly all that terrible where you wouldn't eat it
2. The food doesn't cost an absolute fortune. It's affordable
3. They offer an overall good, fun experience
4. They make you, the customer, feel special/privileged
5. The list goes on

I normally don't patronize the The Cactus Club simply because it does not appeal to me anymore however, if and when we have colleagues from out of town visiting, I don't mind suggesting to have lunch across the street at Cactus Club. I could take them to Boston Pizza, Red Robin's, or a dive bar but c'mon, seriously? Cactus Club is a safe bet and they're sure to have a good time. Giving Cactus Club a 5/10 for their food is a little harsh. They aren't a Michelin 4 Star establishment and should not be treated as one. They simply cater to a broader or more general audience if you will.

[westopher]

before i start im not saying all this because i work there, im just saying it because cactus is one of the most generous, understanding and organized companies Ive ever worked for and i just want to get my opinion across to people.


I suppose I am being a bit harsh if we are just going to speak of Cactus alone, because I suppose out of the 3 places I mentioned, they do put more effort into food quality. However, based on the fact that they are even affiliated with that shitstain of a company joeys, and earls, makes it hard not to hate their M.O. You can't be under an umbrella corporation, that has such a blatant lack of morals, and not be lumped in with them. Regardless, if they are paying your bills, and you are enjoying your job thanks to them, good on you. Its not an easy thing to have in the restaurant industry.

[Soundy]

Despite some common roots, I don't think Cactus has had any direct relation to any of the others for a long, long time. They've been consistently ranked among BC's top companies to work so, so obviously they're doing something right (#4 overall in 2011 - 2011 Overall Winners | The Best Companies to Work for in BC (http://www.bestcompanies.ca/winners/2011-overall-winners/))

[westopher]

I believe the connection is strictly financial at this point.

[Soundy]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/431297_314313961962267_205881649472166_920989_9262 37341_n.jpg

We have a new menu item launching next Tuesday, March 20th. Ready for it...... An Ocean Wise Albacore Tuna sandwich with arugula, red onion, smoked bacon topped with a fresh cilantro salad.

[November]

Are you hired as their revscene marketing director? All cactus club has, is 5/10 quality food, 7-8/10 quality chicks, and a recognizable name. The restaurant industry is nothing but marketing and familiarity, and sex appeal. Most people have no interest in quality food, or any kind of responsible food production going into their over stuffed stomachs, as is proved by these chains taking over.

I have to disagree. While Cactus does not serve 5 star quality food, some of their menu items (mostly Rob Feenie menu items... Like the butternut squash with prawns, fried sage leaf and black truffle oil :sweetjesus:) are excellent!

I agree that the servers are hot, but that alone does not build an empire like Cactus'. They're selling atmosphere and sex appeal but there are plenty of less successful places that have those 2 qualities and shit food

Cactus>Joeys>Earls>Milestones

[beanzzz]

Hate Cactus all you want, its not going to stop them from opening another location.

Langley City Council approves Cactus Club bid (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Langley+City+Council+approves+Cactus+Club/6271945/story.html)

[Ri2]

Pretty understated, actually... if you want an acid trip without actually dropping acid, go across the street to Milestones and check out their bathrooms.

hmmmm, thanks... i will try!
i'm a sucker for the lavatories :accepted:

[shawnly1000]

Hate Cactus all you want, its not going to stop them from opening another location.

Langley City Council approves Cactus Club bid (http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Langley+City+Council+approves+Cactus+Club/6271945/story.html)

LOL hmmm wonder what the demographics of their customers will be like :badpokerface:

[donjalapeno]

^

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn73/girlofwordsblog/rednecks.jpg

[sonick]

"Pile on up into the back of the pickup kids, we eatin' FANCY tonight!"

jk, for reals there's a lot of rich people with giant houses out in Langley.