Planning a Restaurant

I viewed the long range planning minutes for the last meeting and noticed a PIF item which may be added to 2026 money plans. Money set aside for new restaurant at Willow Creek is 2.5 million. WOW‼️ What you say??

 

What The Flock?

 

That is what I said. Though it was stated in the 4/1/25 minutes. But I believe they are serious?

 

I don't see anything wrong with investigating the possibility. People have said they want a nicer restaurant. Could be a win/win if the right company leases the space.

 

This was very briefly mentioned last year.

 

Indeed a restaurant has been in discussions for even more than a year, but first time I’ve heard about the possible 2.5 million dollar PIF placeholder for 2026.

 

I do remember a large amount like that for some sort of specialty type restaurant. I don't recall the specifics now.
I used to pay closer attention and remember things better but I just don't have the space for it all anymore lol.

 

It would do someone well to drag out the lease agreement we have on our two restaurants in our bowling alleys and see how well that has netted out for us. Seems to me we have the obligation to fix any and all equipment included in their monthly lease. Rumor was the equipment replacement was higher than the rental money we got.

I'm not for or against a restaurant, if it has the potential to break even or make a few bucks. I've been here long enough to remember we used yo have a catering division/department and we got out of that business because we were losing our butts. For those that don't remember, seems to me the kitchen was where the Willow Brook/Willow Creek maintenance buildings are.

This another one of those equations that adding more sq footage has to be factored well beyond stating PIF will cover the cost.

 

Agree! While I don't think we need a Cafe Monarch I would like to see a more upscale restaurant here in Sun City. Maybe like a Vogue Bistro?

 

Long Range Planning Committee Meeting Summaries

April 1, 2025 Summary
Member requests from survey included on LRP goals list discussed:
• Walking Paths
• Upscale Dining
• Upgrading the Fitness Centers
Here

Other LRP Summaries
October 1, 2024 - April 1, 2025
Here

 

Bill, I was reading the old Web Spinners, and did you know that in the early 70's, we had 14 restaurants in Sun City! I remember one called The Fountain Bell. I think my Father took us there once. The original Del Webb structure is still there. It sits at 105th and Bell Rd. North side. It had a beautiful large atrium inside. A wonderful sit down, fine dining restaurant in the day. It is now mixed use office building. Sorry to see all of these restaurants go away. We could use a couple of very nice restaurants in here.

 

What you quoted here was everything I asked for on that survey in 2021. Did it ever go anyplace?

 

Eileen, the Long Range Planning Committee discussed them most recently at their April 1, 2025 meeting. See post a few above yours for links to view that summary and others. Reassuring to know LRP hasn’t forgotten about them.

 

Nope! They keep talking about doing another survey however this one was very expensive, done by ASU students and appears not one person paid attention to it. ASU/RCSC Survey-Community Involvement – Recreation Centers of Sun City AZ

 

George's leases are unlike any I ever heard of. I don't know who was the one that negotiated those.

 

What is an upscale restaurant?

 

What are RCSCs ability to run an upscale? Restaurant?
Prrobaby None

 

What happened to the 14 restaurants that left Sun City?
Why did they leave?

 

Probably hard to compete with all the restaurants in the Arrowhead mall area, just six miles away from Sun City? That’s what I was told about the former movie theater at the La Ronde center. Two big multi screen theaters at Arrowhead .

 

I did know that and in fact DEVCO built all of them and leased many of them so they had dining locations across the community. Sadly, there's been a challenging history of failures since those glory years of the 60's, 70's and 80's. One of the better old Realtor standby's was to open the the oven while showing the kitchen off with it looking like it had never been cooked in.

Just this morning i opened my news feeds and one of my regular algorithm driven topics are bankruptcies. For some odd reason, i follow them and one of the most noted industry filings has been restaurant chains. Today was no exception and i cut and pasted the first two paragraphs from an article:
"The casual restaurant sector has faced economic hardship for the last five years since the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the industry.

As the pandemic faded away, other problems hampered the industry, such as rising costs of labor, food, and supplies from inflation, increased interest rates on debt, and changing attitudes of consumers on dining out."

Clearly this isn't just a Sun City thing, it's an everywhere thing. Sun City has always been more problematic because of the huge summer departures that left restaurants struggling through June, July, August and Sept. Throw into the mix those earlier 100 plus degree days being hotter and lasting longer than the 4 months and residents not wanting to even leave the house during the heat of the day and it's tough to pay the rent.

That doesn't mean a specialty restaurant can't make it, but they better be damned good, and more importantly, well priced knowing the clientèle are frugal to the point of being cheap. That's not a knock on anyone, because the cost of living is impacting even those who are well healed. One has to question if the raft of cooking shows on cable having changed attitudes even a little; all those home chefs becoming Gordon Ramsey wanna-Be's.

Long before i would look at a location at a golf course, i would be targeting the possibility of a more centrally located spot included in the Lakeview renovation; where the new center would become a destination of choice for visitors and members alike. We already know half of Sun City uses the lake and Meeker Mountain as a must see spot, so it might work incorporating a decent dining/coffee/ice cream and wine stop somewhere on the 17 acres available.

Which all gives credence to a "master plan" rather than just throwing darts at the dart board and hoping it works out. We've done that for way too long.