Opening delays and high costs are prompting some potential tenants to turn down a spot in the new development.
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Uncertainty surrounding the opening date for a glitzy new food court at the massive Oakridge Park development is making it a challenge to prepare for operations, some tenants say.
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The Time Out Market is an elevated, 50,000-sq.-ft. food court and a key part of the mixed-use project, one of the largest in the city’s history, that includes a mall, residential towers, office space and a public park. Time Out Market is expected to include 18 kitchens, a coffee counter and a dessert offering, and more than 1,000 seats. The new dining space is also slated to include three bars and an outdoor terrace.
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High-profile names from Vancouver’s food scene, such as Rob Feenie, The Lunch Lady and DownLow Chicken, are among the confirmed tenants of the dining space, which is set to open sometime this spring.
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Two Time Out Market tenants, speaking to Postmedia on the condition of anonymity due to signing a non-disclosure agreement with the market, said they are preparing for an internally shared opening date of May 28.
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But one of the two tenants is not convinced that things will be ready by then.
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Time Out Market has reportedly been “handed possession” of the space within the development, but construction of the rest of Oakridge Park remains incomplete, the restaurateur noted.
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“Time Out Market was not prepared to open the food court until the retailers moved in and Oakridge Park was prepared to fully open,” they said. “They want the mall to be fully operational, construction complete, with parking available and no loud disturbances.”
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Any postponements to the opening date would affect their hiring and training, the restaurateur said, as they need at least two months advance notice to properly train staff and negotiate with farmers and ingredient suppliers. They also still need to create menu brochures and signage to be approved by the development team.
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The second Time Out Market tenant seemed less worried and said things were “looking great” for a May 28 opening date.
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The chef said they require about a month of preparation time, adding they had “anticipated some delays and prepared for them right from the beginning” due to the scale of the Oakridge project.
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“Generally, for a project of this magnitude, I need to begin hiring staff at least a month in advance to ensure everyone is fully trained. Sourcing and ordering ingredients usually happens shortly after the team is in place, just before opening,” they said. “Things are looking great on my end. We have received our key dates and are fully prepared and ready for when that time comes.”
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When reached for comment regarding the suggested May 28 opening date and any possible delays, a Time Out Market spokesperson said they could not confirm an opening date or any other details at this time, other than to say it will be sometime this spring, which lasts until June 20.
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Project announcements have been overshadowed by the development timeline, which has been mired in delays and setbacks.
