Former Mayor Eric Richardson walks away from Clubhouse Grill operation
The following sign was photographed Wednesday June 24 at the Cedar Hills Clubhouse Grill.
Unconfirmed reports say Eric Richardson and his wife could not make the grill profitable and closed Elev8 Friday, June 19.
The Cedar Hills city website offered no report or explanation regarding the closure of Richardson’s Elev8.
A call to Council member Jenney Rees, responsible for CH Communications, asked if a city website or newsletter explanation was forthcoming. Rees said she had not yet been asked to write one by Mayor Gygi, or City Manager David Bunker (currently on vacation).
In the meanwhile, Rees confirmed that Eric Richardson’s presentation proposal was the only that was made in person to the Council on February 17, 2015, when the Council selected his proposal and offered him the lease. Mayor Gygi supported and promoted the lease be offered to Eric Richardson. (see http://www.cedarhills.org/node/3396 )
Rees was unaware if the Richardsons had any food services experience prior to the lease contract being awarded, though she believed their associates did. When asked if the City Newsletter had offered to the citizen’s the opportunity to Cedar Hills citizens to bid for the Golf Grill lease, Rees said she did not know. A check of the January and February CH newsletters does not show any such announcement of the bid opportunity to Cedar Hills residents. (see http://www.cedarhills.org/newsletters/2015 )
The city website does not currently list the Richardson Agreement posted under 2015 Contracts & Agreements at http://www.cedarhills.org/contracts-bids .
Rees confirmed that Sammy’s had attempted to renew their lease agreement with the city, but said that when Sammy’s insisted on shortening the hours of operation for the sake of profitability, but that the City chose not to renew their requested lease renewal.
Rees stated that the Agreement with Richardson’s Elev8 food service allowed for either party to walk away from the agreement.
According to the Daily Herald report, Elev8 was to start operation April 1. It apparently lasted only about 10 weeks.
Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government (CHCRG) has long maintained that government entities regularly prove incapable of managing profitable business operations. The golf course continues to average over $550,000 per year in loses (taxpayer subsidies) for the 10 years of it’s operation, with approximately 20 more years left on the bond.
Until further notice, the government golf course grill Elev8 is dark, empty and “closed permanently”.
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For more info see…
Councilman Zappala: Former Cedar Hills mayor turns his life around, starts restaurant business
And…
Daily Herald: Former CH mayor-convicted-felon Eric Richardson awarded City contract at Golf Clubhouse grill
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