Sale on cards for trio of hospo hotspots
Three restaurants and bars in a popular Christchurch nightspot have closed down and are expected to be sold.
Vietnamese restaurant You Hanoi Me, high-end cocktail bar Red Light District and seafood and champagne bar Louis on Victoria St all shut their doors over the holiday period.
Jason Whitelaw, whose company Bar Bar Black Sheep owns the three ventures, said a buyer had been lined up for both Louis and Red Light District, while he was considering whether to hold on to You Hanoi Me.
Developer Richard Diver, whose company Countrywide owns the development at 123 Victoria St housing the three businesses, said the buyer was also looking at taking on You Hanoi Me. ‘‘I think he is going to look at changing the theme of the other two bars, and if he buys You Hanoi Me he will keep it the same.’’
The decision to sell was down to ‘‘personal business’’ and there were no outstanding debts,
Whitelaw said.
‘‘We’ve sold one of our restaurants and we’re just moving on to greener pastures.
‘‘They are not in administration, they’re not in liquidation, they’re being sold – we’re moving them on.’’
You Hanoi Me was scheduled to open on Tuesday after being shut over Christmas and New Year – as the three premises were last year – but yesterday afternoon its doors were still closed.
Whitelaw would not say whether a single buyer was taking over Louis and Red Light District but confirmed both would remain closed until the new operator decides an opening date.
Whether staff keep their jobs is also being negotiated, but some have already moved on.
Hospitality businesses on Victoria St have struggled in recent years, with numerous ventures including Wise Guys, Tequila Mockingbird, Rockstar Pizza, Chinwag, Chopped, and Harlequin Public House closing down.
The opening of Riverside Market near The Terrace in October has also provided competition for businesses elsewhere, but Whitelaw said it hadn’t affected his ventures as they targeted different markets.
Cantabrians spent almost $1.5 billion eating out and drinking last year, according to the latest figures from the Restaurant Association.
Hospitality New Zealand’s Canterbury president Peter Morrison said the market in Christchurch was ‘‘very competitive’’.
‘‘We have a lot of bars and restaurants, considering we aren’t still fully operational as a city.
‘‘We are waiting for the convention centre this October, and the cruise wharf at Lyttelton opening in November will make a big difference to bars and restaurants in the day time.’’