New restaurant at Hotel Rialto
Rob Ekstrom and Darren Cole are opening a new restaurant at the Hotel Rialto, leasing the space that was formally home to Veneto Bar Ristorante.
The Palms at The Hotel Rialto is expected to open in early August. Creating a new restaurant in the Hotel Rialto was an easy decision for the Danzo family, owners of the hotel.
“We admired their entrepreneurial spirit and are excited about their vision for this significant corner in the city,” says Jane Danzo. “Over the years we operated Veneto, we were blessed with a loyal clientele as well as exceptional restaurant/bar professionals, for which we are very grateful.
“We welcome The Palms, which will continue to provide a vibrant and rewarding restaurant/bar experience in the same location, the heart of downtown Victoria.”
According to Ekstrom and Cole (who many will remember from his days running Steeples at Shawnigan Lake), plans call for classic dishes with unique twists, a full cocktail menu, happy hour and late-night specials, and a Sunday brunch with live DJ.
Latch Inn reopens in Sidney
The Latch Inn at 2328 Harbour Rd. in Sidney is open again after shutting its doors in 2018.
Business owners and operators Dominic Monet, David Marshall and Michael Dwyer have leased the property, with five rooms and suites, to run a bed-and-breakfast out of the Samuel Maclure-designed building, which was completed in 1926.
Monet has been involved with the Huntingdon Manor and the Pendray Inn and Teahouse. Dwyer and Marshall managed the Dashwood Inn in Victoria between 2013 and 2017.
Commonwealth group’s new board
The Royal Commonwealth Society Vancouver Island has announced its new board for 2020-2021: Mary Bernard, Dave Friend, Tony Goodman, Koby Grewal, Sayge Klein, Donna Otto, David Spence (president), Nikki Tellem and John Western.
The purpose of the society is promoting respect, curiosity and service while valuing dignity in diversity and integrity with inclusivity.
Swiss Vault server wins economy award
Swiss Vault Canada Inc., which designs and manufactures energy-efficient and large data-storage desktop servers in Victoria, was awarded the SolarImpulse.com award for the energy-efficiency of its Space Odysee 25TB mini desktop SMB/SME computer server.
The Solar Impulse Foundation promotes the adoption of profitable solutions to protect the environment. Swiss Vault Canada chief technical officer Doug Fortune said candidates for the award need to demonstrate feasibility, environmental and socio-economic benefit and profitability.
