Despite having to lay off a few employees, two local businesses affiliated to a recently shutdown golf course are staying afloat.
Since the Garibaldi Springs golf course shut down on May 31, sister businesses Rockwell's Bar and Grill and Executive Suites Hotel have had to routinely remind people they're still open.
"So many people assume we closed with the golf course," said the restaurant's owner and operator Surinder Brar.
Brar said traffic has slowed dramatically, most notably during the weekdays, and he gets phone calls on a daily basis asking whether the restaurant is still open.
"We've had to lay off a couple people because on the weekdays. We only need one server and maybe two at dinner times, whereas we used to have four to five servers," he said.
"When there was a golf course there would always be people sitting during the day and drinking or eating."
Brar has stepped up his marketing strategy to get the message out. He revamped his advertising and has been more aggressive with his specials and an outdoor patio is being added to target larger events like weddings, birthday parties and conventions.
"The traffic has been fairly low but we have been keeping up with our weddings and other types of parties," he said. "We have over 16 weddings booked over the next few months."
New royalty cards will also be distributed to every local business, said Brar. The VIP-type card offers 15 per cent off managers and 10 per cent off for employees.
Executive Suites general manager Kris Szylowski said the course closure is having a small effect on the hotel's operations and business levels are slightly lower last year, but it's not a drastic situation.
"We've shifted our focus slightly away from the golf course and more towards other activities and working with local events such the BC Bike Race and Loggers Sports," said Szylowski.
"The weddings are doing well in the hotel, and it takes time for any hotel to ramp up - we see progress month by month."
Brar said a deal is being worked on for someone to purchase the course and have it up and running again before the end of summer.
Garibaldi Springs development president Sid Brickman confirmed there is local interest in purchasing the golf course but he declined to elaborate until the offer is signed since, he said, he's had a number of false inquiries.
"I don't want to say too much and get too much out there because it only leads to more disappointment if it doesn't happen."
