NEW OWNERS FOR GARDEN’S EATERY
Madame Zingara group preferred bidder to take over lease of historic venue
THE POPULAR Madame Zingara restaurant group has emerged as the preferred bidder to take over the lease of the Company’s Garden Restaurant.
The City of Cape Town’s immovable property adjudication committee has recommended that Madame Zingara, the only responsive bidder out of seven contenders, should be awarded the lease.
The dinner theatre eatery, which runs venues such as the Theatre of Dreams, is set to pump R2.4 million into the site.
The current restaurant has been managed by Manuel Rodrigues for almost 40 years, but his lease expired in 2002, although the city continued to rent it to him on a month-to-month basis.
According to the report to be considered at tomorrow’s meeting of the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee, Madame Zingara will rent the restaurant, which is expected to be named “Haarlem and Hope The Company’s Garden Restaurant”, from the city for R36 000 a month for five years, with the option to renew for a further five years.
Madame Zingara’s new look will include a dedicated children’s corner and outside play area. As per the city’s tender brief, there will also be dedi-
THE PROSPECTIVE NEW OWNERS ALSO COMMITTED TO RETAINING THE CURRENT STAFF
cated chess tables and a giant Jenga set.
Odell Prince of the city’s finance directorate noted in the report that Madame Zingara was the only responsive bidder of seven applicants.
The prospective new owners also committed to retaining the current staff subject to their requirements.
The city had identified the historic restaurant, which has been operating for more than 60 years, for a revamp as part of its Company’s Garden Revitalisation project. It needed to be improved “both operationally and aesthetically”, said Prince.
“The city takes great pride in this important green space in central Cape Town and this is reflected in the care with which the Company’s Garden is maintained.”
Prince said Rodrigues applied in 2003 for a lease renewal but the two development proposals were not approved as they were not in keep- ing with the long-term vision for the Garden.
“It is evident the current restaurant operators have done very little to improve the premises during their lease period and the restaurant is in sore need of renovation and moder- nisation. The management of the Company’s Garden has received many complaints about the generally ‘rundown’ feel of the restaurant and this is not the image City Parks wishes to be portrayed with regard to a flagship facility.”
Prince said Rodrigues would be able to run the restaurant until the end of July.
The report noted that the city would get a rental income of R432 000 for the first year, with an annual escalation of 8 percent thereafter.
Madame Zingara would also make a once-off contribution of R80 000 towards the landscaping of the children’s play area.
If the recommendation is approved by the mayoral committee, it will go to council at the end of the month for its decision.
Rodrigues could not be reached for comment but was devastated in May 2012 when the city decided to put the lease out to public tender.
At the time, he said he had spent thousands upgrading the eatery, which had become an institution with patrons of the legal fraternity who popped in while court was in recess.