Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: jdincau on December 19, 2016, 11:56:36 PM

Title: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jdincau on December 19, 2016, 11:56:36 PM
The SCTA Facebook page just shared a post from George Escobedo that the café is closing in two weeks. I am stunned. The Salt Flats Café was the best place to eat in all of Wendover, East and West.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: salt27 on December 20, 2016, 12:10:36 AM
 :cry:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: SPARKY on December 20, 2016, 12:28:41 AM
Dodge---I will miss 3 amigos and a large Apple Juice
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Tom Liberatore on December 20, 2016, 01:34:43 AM
That is terrible news, their Chile Verde omelet would last me for days! I will miss them greatly and remember them fondly, hope that they all do well.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Speed Limit 1000 on December 20, 2016, 03:12:16 AM
Good food, good prices, great people. Always racer friendly. We will miss the SFC!
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: ratpatrol66 on December 20, 2016, 04:09:58 AM
The apple juice was as good as it gets along with everthing else. This time of the year probably couldn't have been easy out there all alone.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: DallasV on December 20, 2016, 09:15:04 AM
I noticed one of the comments stated that the owner of the building tripled the rent and Marcelo couldn't absorb that. Maybe he can find somewhere in town.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 20, 2016, 10:14:21 AM
I guess I remember hearing about a massive rent charge but didn't think it through to today's announcement.  I can't imagine being out there (as a visitor) without having the SFC as a standard of excellence (well, yanno...) for eating in the Wendover Metro complex.

I wonder what incentives Wendover City might be able to bring to bear to get Marcello a good location in the town proper?
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: manta22 on December 20, 2016, 10:59:17 AM
I'm really sorry to hear that. It was a really friendly place with good food and a convenient location. I wonder how the gas station will be able to remain there?

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Stainless1 on December 20, 2016, 11:08:29 AM
What a shame.... I hope Marcello and the boys find a spot in town or the property owner determines some rent is better than none...
I know we will go looking for them when we arrive for SpeedWeek...
Hey maybe that abandoned new place at the west exit  :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 20, 2016, 11:35:18 AM
Yeah, but it's in a different state - apple juice might hafta be renamed or something. :roll:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: rouse on December 20, 2016, 11:50:05 AM
I may never get Connie to go back to Bonneville with me if they don't fix this deal.

Their food and service was worth the trip even if your not racing.

Sad day.

Rouse
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: wheelrdealer on December 20, 2016, 01:48:51 PM
Great place. I hope they can relocate in town.

BR
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Buickguy3 on December 20, 2016, 03:26:24 PM
    Go to their Facebook page: Salt Flats Cafe, and you can go to the reviews and write something there as a review. Maybe with a little encouragement they can find a way to keep going. Maybe Mayor Mike can find a suitable spot. Hell, how about a catering trailer on the Museum site or at the Carquest? Leave them a good word on their site.
    Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: [Apple juice, apple juice, apple juice].
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: WOODY@DDLLC on December 20, 2016, 04:28:16 PM
Bad omen?  :?  :x
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jdincau on December 20, 2016, 05:00:04 PM
According to the posts on the facebook page George says they make it 50 weeks of the year by a balance of truckers, tourists and townies. Moving into town reduces their potential clientele enough to make it untenable. Look at the number of in town small eateries that have gone belly up after a couple of years.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 20, 2016, 05:46:02 PM
I thought about the reduction in traffic from truckers and other denizens of I-80, but had in mind that there might be as many trucks passing through town as pull off for the SFC/truckstop.  Of course -- I wonder then about parking.

Yeah, it doesn't sound good.  Bummer.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: kiwi belly tank on December 20, 2016, 09:01:39 PM
The majority of truckers are fueling at the Pilot now & overnighting there, with all the restaurants plus the casino incentives it's just a better deal for them. There's a good Mexican restaurant over the road from the Western Motel also.
  Sid. 
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Plan B on December 20, 2016, 10:07:53 PM
What happens to all the history on the walls?
To the museum maybe?

Sad situation.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jdincau on December 20, 2016, 10:17:31 PM
According to George's facebook page they are taking it all with them
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Stan Back on December 21, 2016, 11:11:32 AM
"There's a good Mexican restaurant over the road from the Western Motel also."

We were gonna give it a try, but they had no apple juice.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Nortonist 592 on December 21, 2016, 06:29:03 PM
I noticed one of the comments stated that the owner of the building tripled the rent and Marcelo couldn't absorb that. Maybe he can find somewhere in town.

Looks like the racers aren't the only ones who get the shaft.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: wobblywalrus on December 21, 2016, 08:42:53 PM
This is happening all around us in Oregon.  A lot of greedy landlords are jacking up rents to obscene levels.  Folks are needing to move to other places.  We sure will miss the cafe.  It is/was a great place.   
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 22, 2016, 05:54:25 AM
Which subject (large rent increases) reminds me of when Nancy and I rented a furnished apartment in W. Wendover a few years ago.  It was in the apartment complex near Smith's (aren't they all?), two bedroom, furnished, we paid utilities.  Nice deal, and Debbie and Todd (crew) could stay in the other bedroom.  Big savings over motels -- $600/month, and since we'd be in town for all of the events -- what a deal for three months!!!

The next year I called to reserve an apartment -- and was told that the rent had increased.  Same deal - utilities, furnished, same damned apartment -- was now to be $1,900/month.

WTF?????  More than triple?  Ah, no thanks.

I t does happen, folks.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: comet on December 22, 2016, 08:08:27 AM
This is obviously something that happens worldwide. There are some local business premises that now sit empty as the landlords put rent up to an amount that the business that was renting could not afford. So now the buildings have been sitting there empty for several months. Clever thinking landlord bloke!
We will miss the SFC too. That is a real shame. Good luck to all the team there for a successful future.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 22, 2016, 08:36:03 AM
Please let me state that I wasn't trying to denigrate the landlords in W. Wendover -- but just showing an example that hits close to home for may of us.  It even happens way up north.

At least here all we have to do is wait for winter and harvest enough blocks of ice to make good igloos - then we're golden.  Or white. :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on December 22, 2016, 10:34:56 AM
I worked for years as both a rental consultant for a large apartment rental leasing company in Milwaukee, and as a building manager.  The rule of thumb was this - if you're at over 85% occupancy, your rents are too low.


Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: thundersalt on December 22, 2016, 11:45:32 AM
"There's a good Mexican restaurant over the road from the Western Motel also."

We were gonna give it a try, but they had no apple juice.
We ate there twice. It's ok but the second time I had scouring pad pieces in my Chile verde
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Stan Back on December 22, 2016, 11:50:56 AM
Some recipes call for those -- they help clean you out.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 22, 2016, 11:55:56 AM
"Waiter, there's a fly in my soup, and the other diners are wondering if they can have one, too."
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jacksoni on December 22, 2016, 01:06:00 PM
"There's a good Mexican restaurant over the road from the Western Motel also."

We were gonna give it a try, but they had no apple juice.
We ate there twice. It's ok but the second time I had scouring pad pieces in my Chile verde
At least they tried to clean the pan before cooking the Chili.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jacksoni on December 22, 2016, 01:08:25 PM
"Waiter, there's a fly in my soup, and the other diners are wondering if they can have one, too."

Diner: "Waiter, what is this fly doing in my soup? "

Waiter: "Looks like the backstroke to me!"

(sorry, swimming joke- my other sport besides LSR)
And yah, wrong forum and it's not Friday but SSS started it.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: 836dstr on December 22, 2016, 01:33:04 PM
Sad news about the SFC. Stopped there many times for Breakfast and Dinner.

It sounds like the owner is trying to force them out for whatever reason.

We have some rental houses in San Diego and for small operators the real hardship is turnover rate. With lost rent and maintenance costs are not recouped by increased rents. We try to keep rents on the low to average side and usually only make adjustments every 3 to 5 years. We have one family that has been with us 18 years, and another for 13.

An accountant or MBA would probably advise us to jack the rents, but short term gains are not our motive.

It will be interesting to see what happens to that property in the future. The profit margins for many small businesses like the SFC are so slim that rent incremental rent increases are hard to take.

My best wishes for the SFC crew.

Tom
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on December 22, 2016, 03:40:46 PM
You and Scott Guthrie.  Interesting pair, no doubt.  I think I'll stay out of the lake when you're nearby.  Either of you.
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: jacksoni on December 22, 2016, 06:28:13 PM
You and Scott Guthrie.  Interesting pair, no doubt.  I think I'll stay out of the lake when you're nearby.  Either of you.
I know Scott well. Breaststroker. Glad I don't generally have to  compete with him as I do more backstroke as he is good at that as well as the bike stuff.  :-o
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Buickguy3 on January 05, 2017, 09:31:28 AM
    Jon, Rumor has it that The Salt Flats Cafe has found a new home at the old BBQ place near the Clinic. [Heard from the third barstool down rumor mill]. That would be good news.
   Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on January 05, 2017, 10:02:52 AM
BBQ place near the clinic.  You got me there, Sir Dugglesworth - give me some help.  Where?
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Freud on January 05, 2017, 03:18:23 PM
Does that mean they lose the truck business? Is there truck parking there?

No place was as good as where they were. Highway traffic, trucks, racers.

It was all available to everyone. Trucks won't want to make an extra stop in town.

Oh well they have survived in spite of my infrequent visits and maybe they will

again.

I hate it for them.

FREUD
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Buickguy3 on January 06, 2017, 09:33:18 PM
  Freud, As I understand it they couldn't survive the rent. I agree that they will lose the traffic to the Salt. Hope they can adjust the hours/menu to make it happen. They might have to open up at 3AM to catch the Salt rats. I may have to adjust my hours too. It will be what it is. Thanks for their assistance.
   Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: Salt Flats Cafe closing
Post by: Texican on January 27, 2017, 01:43:05 PM
HERE! IS A PIECE OF GOOD NEWS!

  My best Lady just called over there; and whoever answered the phone when quizzed about closing, said:
 "I'm not moving. We're still here and staying."

She failed to get a name; but it would most likely be the owner or his son.

More as the story develops.
We saw some recent posts on Facebook that inspired the call.

Should somebody choose to verify on their own; try 435-665-7550.

       Regards,
         Jim