Cactus Club at English Bay Poll
byGoodbye onion rings, hotdogs and fudgsicles and hello spinach dip. The Parks Board has just approved a development proposal on English Bay that would replace the existing concession stand with a Cactus Club restaurant.
“The main concern that I had back then was a high-end restaurant and we didn’t want a suit and tie kind of restaurant, so affordability was the main concern that we had had,” said Jasper early Monday. But now, as chair of the Park Board, Jasper said he believed the Cactus Club will provide a suitably casual experience for locals.
“This proposal, this Cactus Club, while some might dispute it, fits into that range of affordability – yes, it’s not a McDonalds – but it’s not a Hy’s or a CinCins,” he said, referring to two high-end Vancouver restaurants. [CBC Vancouver]
I did a quick poll on Twitter last night and although the majority was opposed to the change, quite a few welcomed it.
“I’m with concession, but again I was never a customer of theirs. So maybe Cactus will do better,” said @jlate.
“Yes, Cactus. Parks Board needs the money and Cactus will do a great job,” added @KCITY.
Since this was just approved last night, I haven’t seen any proposed menu items or price points as of yet. The Cactus Club slated for English Bay will be tailoring their seaside menu to less expensive and take-out options though. There would be a main floor with inside and outside seating as well as a concession stand-type of outlet.
Cactus Club is a favourite dining establishment for Vancouverites with delicious menu items and special creations from Chef Rob Feenie. The concern for many though is – does this fit on the beach?
Construction will now begin around Labour Day with Cactus Club moving in for the summer of 2011.
[poll id=”48″]
Update August 2011 They are hosting a hiring fair for the English Bay location on August 25, 26, and 27, 2011.
9 Comments — Comments Are Closed
As long as the new restaurant doesn’t obstruct anyone’s view I think this is a great idea. Why not have higher quality food and drink available in English Bay? Cactus Club is part of the Green Table Network and have been working on reducing their environmental impact of their restaurants for at least a couple years now.
I like their food! I’ve never eaten at the concession stands there anyway. They will also get a crazy good view too!
Then again… it’s my neighbourhood.. and there are already a lot of people floodding 😉 I miss the snowy winters haha not the high traffic summers
The choice of Cactus Club hopefully will result in less take-out and therefore less waste created.
It would help if the Parks Board generally allowed more food vending along the seawall. i.e food carts, chip wagons. Why, for example, is there not an ice cream vendor biking around the seawall constantly in summer? I picture what Victoria has around their harbour – one area with tons of vendors (food and otherwise) that creates a nice atmosphere, energy, destination. I wish we had a location like that.
I’m bummed about the Cactus Club mostly because I find their use of women as decorative eye candy offensive (if you’re going to objectify people, at least do it in an equal opportunity way and provide boy eye candy). If they can leave that out and actually create a casual, family friendly restaurant, then I’ll happily be surprised and patronize the place.
i never eat concession food. it’s just plain gross. hopefully cactus club will bring in some slightly more edible options, and i hope it will be affordable!
This could be really good … I’m not huge on the idea of another chain restaurant, but if they tailor the menu well this could mean a big jump up in food quality for sea-wallers
Other then the occasional fish-n-chips in Stanley Park, I avoid the Park Board concession food because it’s just not that good. Cactus Club is likely to be an improvement. If I can get some hot wings at English Bay, so much the better.
There should be room for both, I should be able to go to Kits beach, buy fish and chips and go and sit on the beach and eat them, not sure if a Cactus Club would be set up that way. They may have food to take out but again not the same. Maybe competition is the way to go have both.
The concession stand was disgusting.
Horrible crap, not food.
Lousy service and operation.
So glad it’s gone.
I have great expectations for this new venture.
I look forward to strolling down,
having a drink there, looking out at the beach, people, activity.
Maybe try the food if it’s quality.
Their food philosophy seems conscientious.
Too bad for Milestones on Denman though.
They ‘blew it’ when they built that new version.
Lousy room and food. Nice servers though.
I hope the CC opens on time for the good weather.