Melrose cafe abruptly closes doors after 23 years, shifts focus to casino location

[rob the knob]

A mainstay on the 17th Avenue bar strip for decades has closed its doors.

Melrose Cafe & Bar announced Sunday that the 17th Avenue S.W. location will be permanently closed to put focus instead on their newer Cowboys Casino location near the Stampede grounds.

“We would like to thank all our patrons, suppliers, and partners for the opportunity to be a fixture in the Calgary community,” said the statement on the restaurant’s website, which was tweeted around 10 a.m. Sunday.

Fans of the bar and other locals tweeted surprise at the seemingly abrupt shuttering of the fixture on the so-called Red Mile.

More to come.

[Masked Bandit]

Wow! That's a pretty big change down there. Where will all the straight-pipe HD douchebags go now?

[FraserB]

Originally posted by Masked Bandit
Wow! That's a pretty big change down there. Where will all the straight-pipe HD douchebags go now?

They've already migrated to Cowboys Casino.

[ExtraSlow]

There was some talk from teh community that the number of bars and restaurants on that road was unsustainable. Wonder what will take over that space, it's some prime real estate.

Actually, I wonder if the real estate value wasn't what prompted this change? Sell that valuable land, move to another spot where they'll be about as busy, profit!

[e31]

CONFIDENTIAL!
City of Calgary proposed development Master Plan

Step 1. Create new zoning bylaw (B1C-YC1E) bicycle use only.
Step 2. Rezone any properties as "Bicycle only" the instant they are vacated.
Step 3. Put on Purple Rain record and rub ones' own titties till they ache.

[btimbit]

Their best chef left in 2009, writing has been on the wall since imo

[kaput]

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[codetrap]

Originally posted by btimbit
Their best chef left in 2009, writing has been on the wall since imo The writing is on the wall for 5 years? Really? I think you don't really understand what that phrase actually means. :P

[RY213]

Weird timing with all the NFL games right now. You would think they would at least wait until after Super Bowl.

[Tik-Tok]

Crazy. Only been once or twice in the past 15 years, but was a regular before that. Always started the night there before heading down to 11th, or 1st.

[cam_wmh]

Originally posted by FraserB
They've already migrated to Hudson's, or if they didn't feel like making the jaunt from the burbs, to Shark Club it is.

Fixed that for you.

[rage2]

Have you guys been down to restaurants on 17th since the flood? It's crazy but it feels like every place has lost 70% of its business. I can show up at any place at noon and get seats now. Used to have to show up at 11:15 to get perv row seats on the balcony at Melrose.

[btimbit]

Originally posted by codetrap
The writing is on the wall for 5 years? Really? I think you don't really understand what that phrase actually means. :P

It's gone downhill since, yeah I know what it means :p that's been their impending doom, so to speak. Then the floods sealed the deal.

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
There was some talk from teh community that the number of bars and restaurants on that road was unsustainable. Wonder what will take over that space, it's some prime real estate.

A ridiculous thought given how much development is going on in the Beltline. Things are becoming more sustainable than ever for bars and restaurants down there. More competition yes, but considerably more local residents to draw from.


Actually, I wonder if the real estate value wasn't what prompted this change? Sell that valuable land, move to another spot where they'll be about as busy, profit!

The value certainly had something to do with it. If they own it then it is far more valuable to sell or lease to something that isn't a dated and stagnant brand. The north side of 17th is the most valuable bar and restaurant space in the city. If they leased it, better to focus on the casino than to continue paying the highest rent around when their popularity has dropped.

It's certainly a prime spot, wont be empty for long.

[malbadon]

It seems bizarre they didn't sell the restaurant as-is to someone else to take it over the lease.

[know1edge]

They own the land

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by malbadon
It seems bizarre they didn't sell the restaurant as-is to someone else to take it over the lease.

I'm assuming it is because that would involve selling their brand, which they are transferring to the Cowboys Casino. However it isn't the greatest brand anymore so new people would rather change it to something new as well.

[max_boost]

It has been our after hockey destination so this kinda sucks as they were one of the late night places around.

[mr2mike]

Shifting focus on their other location is a front. There's other reasons. Most known places have one last hurah so not sure the deal here.
Hope the serving staff didn't get screwed over.

[toastgremlin]

Man, I wouldn't want to be trying to sell a used E34 or Titan right now..

[jsn]

Sad to see it go. It wasn't really anything out of the ordinary in terms of pub food, but it was a nice (and large) patio to have a few beers at during the summer. I hope whoever buys it from them keeps the patio space. Patio space is already limited enough as it is on 17th during the summer.

[ZenOps]

It was allright. Cheaper patio ambience could be had for the price of a Starbucks coffee though.

You could sometimes get a far better slice at Wicked wedge (although I hear it hasn't been as good in the last few years) if you wanted quick food.

I figure they figure that the Flames are a write off for a good couple years, so might as well go VLT and other forms of entertainment (other than a HDTV, which everyone seems to have in their house or even dorm room nowadays anyhow)

[jsn]

^^ you can't have a beer on a starbucks patio though. I never really went to melrose for the food. I usually went there when I couldn't get a seat at another patio, which was fairly often as they usually fill up fast in the summers.

[01RedDX]

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[Supa Dexta]

I hope its a boston pizza.

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by 01RedDX
It will re-open under a new brand in time for spring, guaranteed. Maybe it will get divided into more than one establishment but something is going in there.

Can't see Victor Choy missing out on that spot. He's put his mark on enough of 17th already, gotta keep going west.

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by codetrap
The writing is on the wall for 5 years? Really? I think you don't really understand what that phrase actually means. :P

:rofl:

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by malbadon
It seems bizarre they didn't sell the restaurant as-is to someone else to take it over the lease.

I'm guessing their lease is expiring and the new lease rates are ridiculous. It doesn't make sense to shut down a profitable business otherwise (assuming it was profitable of course).

[davidI]

One of the articles I saw from an "anonymous" staff member was that their revenues were significantly down. Surprising they didn't have a wrap up party or something else to promote their new location if that was it, though.

[jdmXSI]

Originally posted by CapnCrunch


I'm guessing their lease is expiring and the new lease rates are ridiculous. It doesn't make sense to shut down a profitable business otherwise (assuming it was profitable of course).

When global news did their story on the closure, they mentioned that the land was owned not leased however they have been wrong before.

Hope the employees got a more than fair compensation pkg and weren't left out to dry when this happened.

[roopi]

Originally posted by jdmXSI


Hope the employees got a more than fair compensation pkg and weren't left out to dry when this happened.

Wait staff gets compensation packages? :confused:

[jdmXSI]

One would hope so if you got let go with no notice outside of "we're closing tomorrow" unless they were already given sufficient time of closing down.

[busdepot]

Originally posted by jdmXSI


Hope the employees got a more than fair compensation pkg and weren't left out to dry when this happened.



hahahahhaa!!!! my sides died!!

[n1zm0]

Alot of our 18th birthdays took place there, going to high school downtown it was a fitting place to skip the day and get drunk for the first time legally.

[sexualbanana]

Originally posted by n1zm0
Alot of our 18th birthdays took place there, going to high school downtown it was a fitting place to skip the day and get drunk for the first time legally.

Kinda awkward though when you go to the same bar for your 18th birthday despite having been in there multiple times before with your fake ID. I didn't do that at Melrose, but the bar by my place.

[Manhattan]

My guess is the casino location was becoming far more lucrative (there's a freaking casino). 17th Ave is probably just getting by and since it's family owned it was probably a lot of extra work to manage both locations. Privately owned businesses don't need to answer to a bunch of shareholders so increasing profits isn't always the top priority.

Very strange they decided to close without notice. Will be interesting to see what happens to that piece of property. Let's hope Concorde or Penny Lane doesn't buy it up and open up another damn beer hall or overpriced restaurant.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Manhattan
Very strange they decided to close without notice.

If they want to walk away from liabilities, it's not odd at all.

You don't want your creditors to know (that include staff and suppliers).

[Feruk]

I typically went out of my way to avoid this place. Not as shitty as Ming, but probably one of my least favorite places on 17th. No sadness here.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Feruk
I typically went out of my way to avoid this place. Not as shitty as Ming, but probably one of my least favorite places on 17th. No sadness here.

+1 I was not a fan of that place.

Strange to see any bar on 17th ave close their doors though, when you see how packed everything is on weekends or in the summer.

[max_boost]

Originally posted by busdepot




hahahahhaa!!!! my sides died!! It's not fair!

[jdmXSI]

Originally posted by busdepot




hahahahhaa!!!! my sides died!!

I was just thinking along the lines of this:

http://www.workrights.ca/content.php?doc=117


Do I get notice before I'm let go?
Yes, but only if you've been employed continuously for three months or more. This gives you the right to written notice or to pay if notice is not given. How much notice you get depends on how long you've been working at the same place.

(Note: If you belong to a union, check your collective agreement. You'll likely have better notice and termination pay clauses than the minimums found in the law. You'll also have the right to fight an unjust firing through your grievance procedure. And you probably will also have severance pay provisions.)

Length of employment -- Notice required
Less than 3 months -- None
3 months to 2 years -- 1 week
2 years to 4 years -- 2 weeks
4 years to 6 years -- 4 weeks
6 years to 8 years -- 5 weeks
8 years to 10 years -- 6 weeks
10 years or more -- 8 weeks
Do I get paid?

If you don't get the required written notice, you must be paid for the number of weeks of notice you should have received. You're entitled to all your wages, overtime, general holiday pay and vacation pay owed within three days of your last day of employment. If your wages vary from one pay period to another, the average of wages for the 3-month period immediately preceding the date of termination is used to determine termination pay. Your employer can give you a combination of notice and pay that equals the number of weeks' pay you're eligible for.
All outstanding pay must be paid to you within 3 days of your termination date.

[Manhattan]

Originally posted by Xtrema
If they want to walk away from liabilities, it's not odd at all.

How would you walk away from liabilities by closing abruptly?

[roopi]

Originally posted by Manhattan


How would you walk away from liabilities by closing abruptly?

Buy product on credit. Don't pay bills. Close doors.

In this case there is another location so it wouldn't really work. Unless the 2nd location is a different corporation and they aren't dealing with the same suppliers/vendors.

Lots of people do this shit like this.

[Manhattan]

Originally posted by roopi
In this case there is another location so it wouldn't really work. Unless the 2nd location is a different corporation and they aren't dealing with the same suppliers/vendors.

I was thinking the same thing. Who's gonna wanna deal with you after that? Also pretty sure the other location is doing well enough to fund any outstanding liabilities on the old place.

EDIT: Unless there's new suppliers at the new place with a long contract signed and the old supplier screwed them over equally in the past.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by Manhattan


How would you walk away from liabilities by closing abruptly?

Or make sure staff stay on their game if they don't know the end is coming/here?

[suntan]

Wayne's getting older, I suppose. Not totally surprised at this. I do know that he's been thinking about stepping back for years now.

[suntan]

Originally posted by ZenOps
It was allright. Cheaper patio ambience could be had for the price of a Starbucks coffee though.

You could sometimes get a far better slice at Wicked wedge (although I hear it hasn't been as good in the last few years) if you wanted quick food.

I figure they figure that the Flames are a write off for a good couple years, so might as well go VLT and other forms of entertainment (other than a HDTV, which everyone seems to have in their house or even dorm room nowadays anyhow) WW hasn't been on 17th for years now. They're in Chinook Centre's food court. :burnout:

[suntan]

Originally posted by kertejud2


A ridiculous thought given how much development is going on in the Beltline. Things are becoming more sustainable than ever for bars and restaurants down there. More competition yes, but considerably more local residents to draw from. I have no idea where you get your facts from.

It's gone up, sure. But the initial number really isn't all that great. As a comparison, Tuscany has as many people.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/community_social_statistics/beltline.pdf?noredirect=1

Also look at the Beltline's average income. Considerably lower than Calgary's average. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

[BananaFob]

Originally posted by suntan
I have no idea where you get your facts from.

It's gone up, sure. But the initial number really isn't all that great. As a comparison, Tuscany has as many people.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/community_social_statistics/beltline.pdf?noredirect=1

Also look at the Beltline's average income. Considerably lower than Calgary's average. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

That's a fairly obtuse way of looking at things. There are at least 6 or 7 high-rise multi-res developments in the beltline within 10 minutes walking distance of 17th Avenue to be complete in the next 2-3 years. These are full of people in the exact target demographic that bars/restaurants of this type are looking for.

[avow]

Originally posted by suntan
I have no idea where you get your facts from.

It's gone up, sure. But the initial number really isn't all that great. As a comparison, Tuscany has as many people.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/community_social_statistics/beltline.pdf?noredirect=1

Also look at the Beltline's average income. Considerably lower than Calgary's average. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

That isn't a totally fair assessment either though. Beltline does not include the communities south of 17th Ave (Lower Mount Royal, Bankview, Mission) and there is a lot of income and development there. Not to mention Sunalta is not part of the beltline either.

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by suntan
I have no idea where you get your facts from.

It's gone up, sure. But the initial number really isn't all that great. As a comparison, Tuscany has as many people.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/community_social_statistics/beltline.pdf?noredirect=1

Also look at the Beltline's average income. Considerably lower than Calgary's average. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

Tuscany is considerably bigger than the Beltline which takes away the advantage of density. As the chart shows, the projections done in 2009 for the Beltline's population in 2014 was already surpassed in 2011. Similar growth is expected in the next five years (this is all growth that just didn't exist yet in 2009, call it Nenshi and Stanley's vision coming true) and is also occurring in neighbourhoods that flank the Beltline (Victoria Park especially).

The income may be lower, but they are mostly single people and unmarried couples between 19-40. The lifeblood of the bar and restaurant scene. It is flanked by high income family-based neighbourhoods as well which adds to the sustainability (social and economic diversity).

[Cos]

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