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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
A new lease in an old spot
for venerable New Eagle Cafe
New Eagle Cafe will reopen July 2 exactly where it served its last meal May 25, Nimitz Center. It's been on vacation.It will operate 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Plans for an expanded bakery area and take-home meal service are in the works.
Now back to the vacation.
All 30 employees were invited to Las Vegas for five days at company expense.
"About 20 of them came along," said manager John Teruya.
With spouses? "Yeah, some brought their spouses." On the company's dime? Yes, he said.
Do you have any openings?
Teruya laughed, saying his workers were like family and deserved time off. The same 30 will serve customers when doors reopen.
New Eagle's lease with manager MW Group Ltd. was to expire May 31, but Teruya had no renewal agreement by November and notified MW of his intention to find a new location.
Teruya and MW Group Chief Executive Officer Steve Metter reached a new agreement May 27.
"There is no way we would allow an institution like his to leave our property if we can avoid it, so we were really happy to work out a very favorable arrangement for the both of us," Metter said.
The meetings clued Metter in to what Teruya wanted to do for his employees.
"We helped him in that process by providing him a rent concession ... and we're excited because they're going to be improving the space, spending money and energy to make us look better and spruce it up."
Metter considers Teruya "not only an anchor tenant but a destination tenant."
New Eagle Cafe serves the meek to the mighty, such as U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who dined there May 25. Teruya received a well-wishing letter from Inouye earlier and received another when the senator learned of the reopening. He was looking forward to more oxtail stew, Teruya said.
"Anybody who's anybody stops into that restaurant," Metter said.
City Councilman, foodie, author and customer Donovan Dela Cruz was thrilled to hear about the reopening and checked his calendar.
"I have a council meeting that day," he said, crestfallen. Resolutely he added, "As soon as my council meeting is done I'll head over."
Metter has heard similar enthusiasm from other tenants, "because they like eating there and because it brings them business."
Nimitz Center is 80 percent occupied and its new tenants include vacuum cleaner company Oreck Corp., Lifeline Fire and Security, Hawaii Craft Supply, The Floor Store and Good Feet. "I'm wearing their insoles right now," Metter said.
"AAA has just signed a big lease," for 7,000 square feet, he said. "AAA is one anchor on one side, and then with New Eagle the rest of the space in the middle will fill in."
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com