“I’m open to dialogue” - Robbie Ayoub

Resto-Bar Marina owner ready to co-operate

Laurent Robillard-Cardinal

For years Aylmer Marina’s future has been the talk of the town. Many councillors, former and present, have commented, but the public has rarely heard from one important player, Robbie Ayoub, owner-operator of Resto-Bar Marina.

Ms Ayoub has been here for 11 years. “No one has lasted this long,” she remarked. And it could turn to 15 years, since Mrs. Ayoub has four years left on her city lease.

An Aylmerite for 30 years, Ms. Ayoub is a veteran of the restaurant business. She operated Bobby’s Bar and Restaurant on Canotek Road in Beacon Hill for 15 years, but closed it in 2007 to focus on her Aylmer business.  She and her family have owned businesses for over 40 years.

“We did well in Ottawa; we have a good reputation. Some of those customers come to Aylmer now because of my previous businesses,” she said. Both restaurants are different; Bobby’s was known for its famous pizzas. “We are capable of running a much better restaurant than this (Resto-Bar), but this is all they (the city) give us to work with,” commented Ayoub.

In its last budget, the city earmarked $5.4 million for the redevelopment of the marina site. The city has asked various community associations for their suggestions to enhance Aylmer’s jewel along the Ottawa River. Ms. Ayoub is keeping an ear to the ground, but isn’t panicking. “Every year we hear ‘you are not going to be here next year’ -- we don’t have time for this; we are busy running a business!” she said.

Ms. Ayoub herself has suggested several improvements, but says the city seemed uninterested. “We had suggested that if they (the city) accepted private money, we would renovate the place with our own money. We’ve offered to renovate it, to move it, or tear it down, all with our own money, provided they give us a long-term lease and they haven’t wanted any of this,” she said.

Alternate uses: who pays?

Many ideas about the restaurant site’s future are around, including moving Aylmer’s Lucy Faris Library there. “As an Aylmerite, that idea does not fly with me. I think councillors should conduct a real public survey; $5.4 million could be put to better use,” she said. “I mean, we should have better grounds for a restaurant.”

There’s also talk about demolishing the building since it is not winterized; however, according to Ms. Ayoub, the city refused to renovate it when she offered. “We brought in an architect who told us how much it would cost to insulate the place -- and we were willing to pay for it. The city would not even discuss it with us,” she told the Bulletin. “Presently, it is not commercially viable during winter.”

The only time the building is used after October is during Aylmer’s Christmas Parade. “We’ve offered the building to participants for the past 11 years,” she said. Staff is present and offer coffee and hot-dogs for $1, which is what the former lease-holder paid for the whole site per year. “We are paying above-average rent as opposed to the $1 a year, like before. Nearby lessors only pay $1, but not us,” added Ayoub.

The present lease expires in four years, and the Ayoubs hope the city will negotiate with them before making a final decision on the site’s future.

“If the city wishes to give us priority because we have been here for 11 years, because we are the only ones who have lasted this long and because we’ve helped clean up the place, we would be happy to be a part of its future. If they want to pay us for our lease, that’s fine, and if they just want to consult with us that’s also fine,” said Ms. Ayoub. But she would appreciate some communication.

However, Ms. Ayoub says that with over 40 years in the business world, and with the city’s 2007 Master Plan shelved, she knows things won’t move fast.