Nanaimo Downtown Landmark Closes
The following announcement appeared on the Modern's Facebook page this morning:
It is with great sadness today that I announce that the Modern Cafe is closed and has ceased operation under current ownership. I am so very sorry for the trouble and anguish that I have caused staff, customers, vendors, and the city of Nanaimo.
Scott Cooper
The Modern Cafe has been a downtown landmark since it opened in 1946 which had recently celebrated 65 years of successful operation.
Three Downtown Restaurants Closed In The Last Month
With today's closing of the Modern the number of restaurant casualties in downtown Nanaimo now stands at three within the past month.
The Dancing Goat on Front Street, and the Good Cooking Guys Restaurant in the Howard Johnson Hotel both have closed within the past month.
What a shame 4 us just had lunch there and the food and service was great as usual Duncan and Mary, Qualicum Beach
ReplyDeleteNo more apple tart tatine??? Noooooooo!
ReplyDeleteWhy did it close? Was there three days before the announcement and the place was packed.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe Modern Café reopens with great new design, better menu, happier staff, and better care of the regulars, said the new general manager Lorraine McGregor.
The Modern Café, an iconic downtown Nanaimo restaurant, reopened on November 1 after almost three months of extensive renovation. McGregor said improvements included refinishing the original floor, new furniture, light fixtures and imported art. She also said she plans to make changes in customer service.
The improved menu will, according to McGregor, feature new vegetarian options while keeping old favorites - such as the ‘Mod Mac and Cheese’ - at more affordable prices. Special attention was also paid to redesigning the wine list and cocktail menu. McGregor said they will be offering one ounce martinis, along with the regular two ounce size, to better accommodate responsible drinking.
The Modern Café closed on August 8. McGregor said the closure was due to improper management and “trying to make the business grow too fast.” She said the restaurant will instead focus on good service and better care of regular customers. “We will never book out for private parties and close the door to our regulars.”
Jade Pascoe, one of the regular customers, said she was surprised when the Modern Cafe closed suddenly without letting guests know.
“Nanaimo feels like a ghost town, now,” she said. “The ‘Mod’ was the coolest and busiest place in downtown. It used to attract a young crowd, and I would always see my friends in there or outside on the streets, but now I just walk around and don’t know anybody.”
Pascoe said she will give the restaurant another try, and that she is curious about the lower prices and happier service. “I hope they will keep the promise,” she said.
McGregor said she is optimistic about the future of the business. “It will be a fresh start for the new and improved ‘Mod’.”