Sports View Deli, Bar and Grill will close this summer and be utilized for summer camps for the second consecutive year. That doesn’t mean the space will disappear, with options available to Oak Bay council.
The Sports View at Oak Bay Rec used to turn $60,000 to $100,000 back into community recreational programs. Impacts including the loss of the curling rink, adjacent ball fields and changes in impaired driving laws all led to a revenue decline.
The licensed restaurant hit a low of roughly $50,000 in losses in 2013. The Parks and Recreation Commission opted to save money by closing the summer months and cut the losses nearly in half.
“They took that space and they put additional summer camps up there,” said Coun. Hazel Braithwaite.
“They were also asked to see what other plans they could come up with for that space.
Options for repurposing the space, as outlined by an architect, came with a price in the $250,000 to $500,000 range.
Recreation Oak Bay ventured into the music scene last fall. Friday nights it transforms into musical venue Upstairs Lounge.
It’s one of many arts-related activities the recreation commission already provides and council has made it clear there’s interest in adding ‘culture’ to the title and mandate of its Parks and Recreation Commission.
“My feeling is that’s the way we’re going to go,” said Braithwaite. “I think we will give this at least another year.”
The lounge will close at the end of May and reopen in September.
A decision is expected when council approves its budget after its final estimates meeting April 15.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com