After more than 30 years of serving comfort food, SaanichB次元官网网址檚 J.J. Morgan Restaurant is closing its doors.
Russell Eng has owned and operated the restaurant for 25 years. Recently, he made the difficult decision to close at the end of April rather than relocate during the redevelopment planned by Wesbild, the company that owns the University Heights Mall property.
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Ahead of the redevelopment, Wesbild has worked with the existing tenants to figure out what the future holds, said a spokesperson for the Vancouver-based company in a statement.
Most were told they will have to relocate to make room for the which, if approved by the District, will include six new buildings and almost 530 rental units to be set above retail spaces and various restaurants.
Eng has mixed feelings about the impending closure of the restaurant. HeB次元官网网址檚 going to miss the routine, the chicken pot pie, his B次元官网网址渃rewB次元官网网址� and regulars whoB次元官网网址檝e become like family.
B次元官网网址淓verybody is a regular here,B次元官网网址� Eng said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the community meeting place.B次元官网网址�
In more than two decades at the restaurant, heB次元官网网址檚 seen children grow up, get married and then bring their own babies by.
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Eng said some customers come in on a daily basis and heB次元官网网址檚 not sure where theyB次元官网网址檒l all go now.
As for the staff, almost a dozen have worked by his side for more than 20 years and he couldnB次元官网网址檛 just open another restaurant because it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be J. J. MorganB次元官网网址檚 without his crew.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e the heart of the restaurant,B次元官网网址� he said.
Despite feeling sad about the end of an era, Eng is choosing to look at the closure as an early retirement. He looks forward to doing some travelling and finally having the time to check a few things off his to-do list.
For now, Eng is in the process of sharing the news with his regulars and enjoying the last few months in business. No farewell party has been planned, but Eng isnB次元官网网址檛 opposed to a send-off.
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