Diners Rendezvous

[grdnkat]

Does anybody remember what downtown Nanaimo was like 8 to 10 years ago? It was literally like a Skid Row environment. It was not safe for anybody, much less families. Why do you think the north end grew so quickly?

I clearly recall what the downtown area was like 8 - 10 yrs ago as I ran a landcaping business from the mid 90's until a few yrs ago. I had several commercial & private customers in the downtown core including the Dorchester Hotel and Harbour Commission. Besides working downtown a couple of days a week, I also shopped and frequented the various restaurants often during the evening. As a middle age woman often working alone I NEVER felt unsafe or that I was in a skid row environment. There was the odd beggar or homeless person on the street, but I don't believe young families were in any danger downtown.

We moved to Nanaimo about 20 yrs ago and construction in the northend was well underway at that time. I totally agree with Bathtub in Bohemia when he says "the north end growth started well over 20 years ago and the main reason for it was that it was cheap, not that downtown was a rathole..........The unregulated and irresponsible development of the north end is what pushed the downtown into rathole status."

[treblemaker]

I've been in Nanaimo for over 16 years; I remember the town as not being too business-friendly, and now I know why. I guess it was just a simple case of the city elders making tons of money at the expense of the downtown core. Greed is good, right? So typical, just like the flight to suburbia in most USA cities, leaving downtown districts in shambles (I remember the Pacifica condos languishing for at least 11 years before it got completed, for example). I think the Nanaimo Parkway was a factor in the downtown core losing business. What troubles me the most is that when I read in the paper about ideas to help make Nanaimo more attractive, most people think that any downtown improvement is a waste of money. The DNBIA will bend over backward to promote and publicize ANYTHING that will draw people. It will take time. It takes a moment to destroy something; years to rebuild. More later.

[All Ages Music Concerts]

One simple thing that is a big factor to the downtown area is: put the bus exchange back somewhere close Port Place like it was before. That is a small improvement that makes a ton of difference. Bring about a change in the bus service to extend past 12:00 midnight for Friday and Saturday. A small start but has weight to the change.

[ebusinesstutor]

My wife and I have travelled to the Zion Canyon Flute Festival a couple of times and we stayed in Springdale. The restaurants there are independent and I ate in about 10 different ones over my two visits. 9 out of 10 were excellent with 1 only ok.

When I contrast that to Nanaimo, the reverse is true. I had to go through a LOT of restaurants to find anything decent here and it is sad that such a smaller town has a better restaurant scene that we do.

[treblemaker]

Zion Canyon is in Utah, right? You can't compare what is allowed down there to what is allowed in Nanaimo. First, prices in Utah are comparatively cheaper, and I'm sure taxes are less, and the regulations that you need to follow in order to run a business are not as overwhelming. Secondly, I'm sure the city elders are much more supportive of the restaurant and nightclub scene than here, even though the town is smaller. By the way, was the music of the flute festival jazzy, or was it native/celtic/alternative in nature? You don't specify.

Nanaimo is a blue collar town that likes its guitar-based rock/blues/celtic music. Jazz music is confined to the university with its high school feeders, strictly an academic exercise. The professionals are on their own with no support. The restaurateurs will not pay unless you have a following, then it's a percentage of sales. That means if your crowd doesn't spend money, you don't work. There is NO PLACE to go to listen to live music for people of a mature age who have money to spend. I have a four piece jazz/blues hybrid band with a vocalist that is playing at the Driftwood Bistro downtown (next to the Queens) this Friday at 8pm. We are the only band that plays the variety of music that we do. It is a constant uphill struggle for us to convince owners to hire us, even though we have a following that will spend the money.

I know where you are coming from. We are trying to establish our own music scene.

[Nanaimo1]

....

[kittahmunhaPromotions]

Zion Canyon is in Utah, right? You can't compare what is allowed down there to what is allowed in Nanaimo. First, prices in Utah are comparatively cheaper, and I'm sure taxes are less, and the regulations that you need to follow in order to run a business are not as overwhelming. Secondly, I'm sure the city elders are much more supportive of the restaurant and nightclub scene than here, even though the town is smaller. By the way, was the music of the flute festival jazzy, or was it native/celtic/alternative in nature? You don't specify.

Nanaimo is a blue collar town that likes its guitar-based rock/blues/celtic music. Jazz music is confined to the university with its high school feeders, strictly an academic exercise. The professionals are on their own with no support. The restaurateurs will not pay unless you have a following, then it's a percentage of sales. That means if your crowd doesn't spend money, you don't work. There is NO PLACE to go to listen to live music for people of a mature age who have money to spend. I have a four piece jazz/blues hybrid band with a vocalist that is playing at the Driftwood Bistro downtown (next to the Queens) this Friday at 8pm. We are the only band that plays the variety of music that we do. It is a constant uphill struggle for us to convince owners to hire us, even though we have a following that will spend the money.

I know where you are coming from. We are trying to establish our own music scene.

this friday? like tonight? what other gigs do you have? where else does your band play? i love jazz but i cant stand young university kids hahaha. I usually check out Hermann's in vic everytime i'm there.. its my jazz treat to myself.

i know a couple years back Acme would have "jazz night" every thursday. im not sure whatever happened with it? life happened and we had to stop going.

[treblemaker]

Yes, tonight at 8pm. I won't give out personal info over the blog site, so please come by the Driftwood Bistro tonight and introduce yourself. I think you'll enjoy it immensely.

[kittahmunhaPromotions]

not sure i can make it tonight, but im hoping for next friday?

I'd like to meet ya