Over the last two years, the Victoria Park Beach Canteen has been operated by the owners of Market and Smor, the downtown boutique greengrocer, but for 2020, a new operator is being sought. As well as the canteen operation, there were four weekends in 2018 and two in 2019 when the nearby “courtyard” was used for licensed events with entertainment. The Town deemed them a success and has seemingly prompted a suggestion that the new Canteen operator might also offer a licensed service (presumably beer and wine and in the Courtyard). The RFP issued by the Town on 21 February says that they “will consider alcohol as part of this RFP. The Town of Cobourg is open to all ideas for providing the food and beverage service for Victoria Park. The successful proponent may offer to sell alcohol on site throughout the season.”
The RFP asks proponents to make offers that can be a flat fee or a share of the profit. Although the previous operator had a profit share contract, no details of their gross sales, fee paid or any other details have been made public so proponents would need to estimate based on their experience in the business. And that’s the other thing that’s emphasized in the RFP – anyone making a proposal must be experienced in this type of business. Proponents are asked to provide a list of “references of similar services provided”.
Other notable requirements are:
- A mandatory Proponents’ Meeting: Tuesday March 3, 10:00 a.m. Victoria Park Canteen when the premises would be shown and all details made clear.
- The contract will be for a term of 3 years with an option to renew for an additional 2 years based on mutual agreement. However, the RFP asks proponents if they would like a different term.
- Expected minimum hours are the same as previously: 7 days a week, from May 24th (Victoria Day) weekend to Labour Day, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Hours may be extended based on weather and events.
- Special event organizers may bring in their own food vendors for the duration of their events.
- All staff members employed by the Contractor must be dressed in suitable approved uniforms. All uniforms must be kept neat and clean. The staff must be qualified and experienced in the food and beverage industry and have good public relations skills.
- The contract will be for 3 years with an option to renew for 2 more.
It’s implied that proponents may modify the building and add signage. It seems that the Town may be hoping for a proposal from a major vendor of food and beverage operations. They distributed RFP’s to possible vendors although their names were not made public.
Bids close on March 10, 2020 and it’s planned to award a contract in April 2020.
Links
- Busy Day at Victoria Park and Beach – 15 July 2018
- Beach Courtyard Summer series – 11 June 2018
- Busy Opening day for Market and Smor – 15 Feb 2019.
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Excellent business with dedicated people with a sunny side disposition. (This is not usual for this town.) Not only they are helpful but they are knowledgeable on high end cheeses from France, oils, gourmet foods and food for your health as an aging community. it means healthy food, probiotic food, fresh food, marinated ones. Etc… and they drive from afar. They have a unique and tasteful European style I admire. Welcome to Cobourg!
Couldn’t agree more with you Johanne and for those reasons they will probably do well in Cobourg. I wish them the best of luck.
But… we’re talking about a beach canteen here with thousands of hungry tourists. How many of them are looking for healthy, probiotic, fresh, marinated food? People want fries, street meat and the like. It’s easy for our visitors to pack some homemade salads in their coolers but not so easy to get a hot slice of pizza, hotdog or a grilled/fried hamburger. One of our contributors on this blog told a story about a visiting family that went up the street to get several pizzas, but we never heard if they stopped at the canteen to get a salad to go with them.
I’ll wager you could sell more cold pop (even though it’s not very good for you) than hot gourmet coffee on the beach in July.
Fast food Frenchy is fast food for a fast life. We both know that! I believe I had a few meals from their caravan (Smør) and their fast food menu had colourful and tasty wraps, pops, fruit drinks and sweet potatoes fries. Different from the tradirional press rat served since the last 30 years..you may say… innovation is interesting, health comes first with education, as cancer is increasing and hits younger and younger people all the time. Vegetable burgers ok, frying is not so healthy so other ways to cook are explored from people studying that balance of taste, presentation and health. Let’s hope for a better future.
So Johanne – how do they make their sweet potato fries if you say you don’t like frying? Vegetable burgers – Tim Horton’s – took them off the menu – they weren’t selling. Press rat? Is that a typo? As I view my neighbours I see them carrying in and having delivered pizza, kentucky fried, Little Caesars by the ton – so I guess the vendor will have to think very carefully about what to offer. My suggestion of a fresh salad made with local summer tomatoes and fresh mint vingarette – very healthy has so far got two thumbs down.
When you will get your first colonoscopy, you’ll be on the radar too!!😱🥬🥦🍏
What about moving off the canteen idea all together and open food service up to various food trucks…you could offer different and authentic ethnic foods and get out of the food business completely. Could consider repurposing the existing canteen space with smaller vendors, towels, sunscreen, freezies, tourist paraphernalia, buskers, art displays and maybe on special occasions licensed it….
Food trucks are a disaster to undermine established businesses, they are paying big tax dollars. Food trucks are great near a village with tents and caravans, cliffs and mountains. You, as a taxpayer have the responsibility to preserve your tax dollars and mine. Your downtown is not exactly prosperous, the malls either. Good planning means trying to fill in the empty spaces, not to free more. Now restaurants…
We have already midtown tea room transforming the town hall into a cactus nightmare. His taxes, and other empty businesses , should be increased if he doesnt keep his business active with proper standards in our downtown prime location. Your memory of this town as a tourist is not terrific : a great beach, weird food, no specialty, big prices, lots of vacancy and trinkets to sell. That’s all!
Huh?
Why go through this exercise every 2-3 years? How much time does this chew up for staff and council?
If we want to monetize the beach and Victoria Park, why don’t we (The Town) take over running the canteen and keep all the profits? We already run the canteens at Legion Fields and the CCC (used to at Donegan Park), so why not Victoria Park?
Serve up what the masses want (Observer has a few menu suggestions below [could throw in corn dogs – yum]) and keep all the money.
Been waiting to hear menu suggestions – could be very helpful to the next vendor. A mixed menu – As suggestions I made before – on healthy side – how about a boneless chicken breast nicely herbed accompanied by a refreshing salad of summer tomatoes, crispy iceberg and a Fresh Mint Vinargrette? They could buy them from the Farmers’ Market here perhaps under contract for a commercial purchase price. So nice too – summer fresh tomato topped on other offerings. Other things people would like?
That “line up and wait your turn at the little window” has got to be improved on. Worst possible way to treat a customer. Even The Pav in years gone by was better – it had open sides where you could stand and peruse the menu board and prices while waiting your turn.
At least the latest version had refrigerated cases out front where you could just pick-and-pay with no lineup for that.
Yes those diminishing Cash profits are very hard to share in but the most of the small store and restaurant owners already know that . So unless the town and tax payers are operating the Till I would be going with a flat rate plus utility and of course the operator should have their own insurance now that Liquor is involved .
” Although the previous operator had a profit share contract, no details of their gross sales, fee paid or any other details have been made public”
Remember that part of the sales pitch from last time that we would have complete and open access to the books anytime we wanted to? We bought it, hook, line and sinker.
Flat rate for sure! Up front would be a good idea too as the last guys were always late with their payments.
Do you have any citations that show your statement; “Up front (sic) would be a good idea too as the last guys were always late with their payments.” is correct.
Gerald, yes, telephone conversations with two very reliable sources.
Thank you for your reply. I was looking for detailed documentation that one could see for themselves that the previous licensee was late in making their payments.
Can’t you just take my word for it?
It’s easy, Gerald, for pseudonyms to cast aspersions against others and use anonymous ‘sources‘ to do so. It’s a breeding ground for malicious gossipers.
OK Gerald, Wally and the other 8 thumbs down, here you go.
I don’t have bank records or deposit slips or anything like that, but if you really need it, I have this correspondence from Ian Davey (who at the time was Cobourg’s Director of Corporate Services – otherwise known as the Finance Director) on the subject. Ian is one of the sources I alluded to earlier. My other source was Lucas Cleveland, but it was only a phone call – nothing in writing and we only talked about rent for 2018 season. If he remembers the call, I’m sure he’ll verify it took place. Give him a call and find out for yourself.
The following will give you dates for 2017 and 2018 seasons. I have no idea when rent for 2019 was, or even if it has been paid yet.
emails are in reverse chronological order, and might have to be spread over 3 posts due to length.
On Feb 14, 2019, at 9:47 AM, Ian Davey wrote:
Frenchy,
Here is the information that I have to date.
We received $10,000 on August 23, 2018 which is $8,850 after deducting hst.
Balance owing for 2018 is a matter of ongoing discussions so I can’t go into any details.
Ian
From: Frenchy
Sent: February 12, 2019 11:13 AM
To: Ian Davey
Subject: Fwd: Victoria Park Canteen
Hey Ian,
I know you’re a busy guy being budget time and all, but any news on the Canteen front?
—
Frenchy
Begin forwarded message:
From: Ian Davey
Subject: RE: Victoria Park Canteen
Date: January 31, 2019 at 5:35:15 PM EST
To: Frenchy
Frenchy,
I hope to follow up on this matter tomorrow and have a response for you after that.
Ian
From: Frenchy
Sent: January 30, 2019 10:26 PM
To: Ian Davey
Subject: Fwd: Victoria Park Canteen
Hey Ian,
I know you’re a busy guy, but have we got anything on this query yet?
I think the canteen, taco stand and weenie cart have been shut down for several months and they should have their financials in order by now. Someone mentioned them having up-to-date software for inventory control, revenue, expenses and profit and that we (the town) would have access to that information. They boasted about “open books” in their original presentation to council.
—
Frenchy
stay tuned for part deux
part deux
Begin forwarded message:
From: Ian Davey
Subject: RE: Victoria Park Canteen
Date: January 16, 2019 at 12:37:49 PM EST
To: Frenchy
Frenchy,
I will look into this again and get back to you.
Ian
From: Frenchy
Sent: January 16, 2019 8:57 AM
To: Ian Davey
Subject: Fwd: Victoria Park Canteen
Hey Ian,
As a follow up to last weeks email re: revenue generated by the Victoria Park canteen, which was a follow up to last July’s discussion re: the same.
Any news?
—
Frenchy
Begin forwarded message:
From: Frenchy
Subject: Re: Victoria Park Canteen
Date: January 9, 2019 at 1:01:35 PM EST
To: Ian Davey
Hey Ian,
As a follow up to our exchange last July, how did we do with revenue generated by the canteen? Can I assume that between the weenie cart, taco stand, canteen and great weather we had a banner year?
—
Frenchy
On Jul 9, 2018, at 11:51 AM, Ian Davey wrote:
Frenchy,
Just following up on your recent questions about the Victoria Park Canteen agreement.
The reason that the rent was reduced from $20,000 to $18,000 was that there was significant work required prior to the start of last summer to get the canteen ready for operations. It was agreed that the Town would take a $2,000 reduction in the rent in exchange for the canteen operators looking after this work.
The Town did not do the repair work so the result was a reduction in rental income. I think this best reflects the economic reality of this transaction.
The amount received by the Town was 18,000 in total. $5,500 was received prior to budget being finalized (YTD actual numbers show $5,500 x 100/113 = $4,867). The balance of $12,500 was received in 2018 and was included as an account receivable for purposes of our year end December 31, 2017.
Since the agreement was for use of the canteen space, we are treating this as rental income and we must take into account the HST by backing it out of the total amount received – $18,000 x 100/113 = $15,929.20. The agreement required a payment of $20,000 or 50% of the profits, whichever was greater. It did not ask for $20,000 plus HST.
2018 is the second year of the agreement with an option for an additional year (2019) based on mutual agreement.
The HST is an issue that will be dealt with in more specifics in any further extension or new agreements.
part trois coming
part trois
As to the budget numbers, I agree that $17,700 would have been the correct number, a difference of $210. Based on the results to date and the much better start in terms of weather, we anticipate that we should well exceed the budget number of $17,490 in 2018.
Ian
Ian D. Davey, BBA CPA CA
Treasurer / Director of Corporate Services
55 King Street W
Cobourg, ON K9A 2M2
Good enough for you guys?
For all you “thumbs downers”… don’t be too quick pulling the trigger on that icon.
That is all that Gerald Childs was asking for, some kind of substantiation.
I gave him my word.
You think everyone should trust a pseudonym?
I trust you and you use a pseudonym.
I certainly do not trust you and Wally Keeler is not a pseudonym.
I never said Wally Keeler was a pseudonym (better re-read my post), I said you use one.
I never suggested that you had done any such thing. (better re-read my post), I asserted “Wally Keeler is not a pseudonym.”
Say your last word because I am weary of your pettiness.
For me on a nice day at the beach I’ld like cold fried chicken, potato salad or choice of fries – sweet potato perhaps? Hot dog – a well made hamburger, ever had the ones at the Port Hope Drive in? Delicious. Nice location, hope the prices don’t price me out!
All those down votes must be from the vegetarians Observer.
Well 10 like the suggestion – haven’t seen any other suggestions of what the down voters would like – “Come and get your hot dog ….. ge ge getem while their hot!”
Or maybe from those of us who are not “vegetarian” but like to eat healthy foods?
It was only meant as a joke Elaine. My feeble attempt at some humour.
The last operator served healthy food – apparently they couldn’t make a go of it.
I somehow think the flooded beach had a lot to do with their poor sales, which contributed to late rental payments.
Flooded beach or not, they made enough to make a payment. It was just late. 2017 and 2018 (no flooding).
Not true. They did very well. They has a contract and used the time to promote their healthy store, which is also doing very well.
Wouldn’t know Elaine how they are doing. Hopefully well but the store is so empty when I go by. As for the Beach Canteen if doing so well why did they give it up? Usually going concerns are kept and there has been no public financial accounting and one blogger states they were late with their payment, even without floods?
Also remember Elaine I suggested a mixed menu – just like they had before with their Chip truck but this time offer a mixed menu at the Canteen so people can decide what they wish to eat. I simply asked for suggestions but find people that push one choice on me only closed minded.