An iconic Parksville restaurant has fallen victim to COVID-19.
Proprietor John St John has announced the British Bobby Restaurant, renowned for its fish and chips and other traditional British cuisine, will close on Feb. 13, 2021. A silent auction is underway for anyone wanting to bid on the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 movie memorabilia or other pieces of Parksville history.
St John said he hopes to make back some of the money invested into the business during the seven years he has owned it, having purchased it from a Canadian couple in 2013.
He said he wouldB次元官网网址檝e liked to received more help from the provincial and federal governments during the pandemic and considers the latest health order enacted earlier this month as the B次元官网网址渇inal daggerB次元官网网址� in the restaurantB次元官网网址檚 back.
B次元官网网址淐OVID comes in and just pulls the rug out from underneath us. We have become another death due to COVID,B次元官网网址� said St John.
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The only B次元官网网址渞eal moneyB次元官网网址� he could anticipate making back is from the sale of the memorabilia and decorations. St John doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe he would B次元官网网址渆ven make a penny backB次元官网网址� if he were to attempt to sell kitchen appliances or dining furniture as B次元官网网址渘o one will be buying restaurant stuff anytime soon.B次元官网网址�
The current lease is set to expire at the end of February, and previously St JohnB次元官网网址檚 son had plans to take over the business, but he can no longer allow B次元官网网址渋n good conscienceB次元官网网址� for his son to take on a B次元官网网址渜uarter-million-dollar debt for a five-year lease.B次元官网网址�
St John said takeout orders have kept his business afloat but he did have to continually dip into savings as the months went on.
B次元官网网址淲e were always thinking B次元官网网址榯he next day is going to be OKB次元官网网址� and we were always looking down the road. But then two weeks turn into nine months.B次元官网网址�
As operating costs are St JohnB次元官网网址檚 main concern, he says it can all add up to $25,000 a month, including expenses like heat, rent, power and wages. The British Bobby is capable of seating 75 patrons, but due to current COVID-19 restrictions, St John said they can only seat 33.
B次元官网网址淲e can no longer warrant the building for a restaurant that size. And itB次元官网网址檚 not looking any better.B次元官网网址�
He initially purchased the British Bobby for approximately $150,000, spent $90,000 on modernizing the kitchen, then invested another $80,000 into developing the second half. In all, St John estimates it came to approximately $300,000.
B次元官网网址淎nd now we canB次元官网网址檛 even give it away. We lost absolutely everything.B次元官网网址�
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This time last year, St John said he wouldB次元官网网址檝e never believed this could happen, as heB次元官网网址檚 always considered British Bobby as a labour of love.
B次元官网网址淧utting in 10 hours a day was something I loved to do,B次元官网网址� he said.
Detailing the success his business has seen over the last eight years, St John attributes most of it to the fact that they only use quality ingredients for their authentic British dishes and that theyB次元官网网址檝e always taken pride in providing a B次元官网网址渇amily atmosphere.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 bought it (British Bobby) not for the profit but for really a family business.B次元官网网址�
Beyond February, he and his wife have B次元官网网址渘o ideaB次元官网网址� whatB次元官网网址檚 next for thier family, or business aspirations, since he believes him and his wife are not the B次元官网网址渞etiring type.B次元官网网址� If the futureB次元官网网址檚 horizon looks different, St John said he would love to open another restaurant, once the pandemic has B次元官网网址渟ettled down.B次元官网网址� Customers have told him theyB次元官网网址檙e prepared to come back, which makes him believe there B次元官网网址渕ay be another British Bobby down the road.B次元官网网址�
As for his silent auction, St John said he would have loved to held an in-person auction, but will instead host the silent one while gathering restrictions are still in place. Those who would like to partake can come to the restaurant, located at #3-1209 Island Highway East in Parksville, during business hours. St John intends to let winners know on Feb. 14 what theyB次元官网网址檝e won.
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