Monashees Closing Next Week

Posted on 9/1/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

A tough market is the reason cited for the pending closure of a Vernon restaurant and pub at a high profile downtown site. Monashees Bar and Grill at 30th Avenue and 30th Street will close Monday, with that space turned into an expanded 30th Street Liquor Store and larger parking lot. Owner Steve Pauls says after 11 years in business, Monashees is no longer viable. "There are 108 restaurants in Vernon, there's also the world food prices. I mean beef prices have gone up 30%, vegetables have gone up 20%. It's just a really tough business," Pauls tells Kiss FM. Pauls expects to retain 60% of his staff, some working at the Kal Wine and Spirits and Kal Sports Bar, across the street, businesses he also owns. He says they will keep Monashees Pizza open. "Our pizza delivery isn't going anywhere."Pauls says expanding the liquor store makes economic sense. "Liquor stores are generally doing well. The trend is to go home and watch your own 70 inch TV, not go to the pub and pay six bucks a drink and watch my 70 inch TV," adds Pauls, who says a restaurant like Monashees would do better in a market like Kelowna, Calgary or Vancouver. "Vernon does not support these types of places." Pauls says Vernon has a declining population, with people leaving to find work. "The only thing growing is the number of restaurants. It's gone from 70 to 103, while the population has decreased."