The iconic Blue Duck restaurant in North Cottesloe has been bought in partnership by the owners of Scarborough’s Villa Bianchi.
The iconic Blue Duck restaurant in North Cottesloe has been bought in partnership by the owners of Scarborough’s Villa Bianchi.
Graham Edwards, his wife Janet, their daughter Jodie Webster and her husband Glen will take over the iconic beachfront restaurant on February 28, and say they intend retaining ownership of Villa Bianchi.
Former owner Kim Gamble told WA Business News last month that, 17 years after opening the restaurant, he was selling up to “simplify” his life, citing the pressure and red tape associated with running the business as having contributed to his decision.
Instead, Mr Gamble said, he would focus his energy on his neighbouring North Cottesloe business, Barchetta.
Mr Edwards acknowledged there were pressures, but said he had been in the industry for a long time and was not concerned.
“Some people let it get to them, but at the end of the day everyone has a job to do and you have to treat them with respect – there is nothing wrong with setting standards,” Mr Edwards said.
Mr Edwards said the new owners planned to revitalise the restaurant immediately after taking over later this month.
“We want to give it a fresher new look – new tables, chairs, floors, air-conditioning,” he said.
Ms Edwards said they were very excited about taking on the business and that Blue Duck staff, including chefs, would be retained.
“We are very excited about going in to the Blue Duck, it is a lovely venue with so much going for it,” Ms Edwards told WA Business News.
“We have been in this game long enough to know that first we need to watch and observe how things are done, then we can make changes that are worthwhile.”
She said they were very mindful that the Blue Duck was already a very well established restaurant with a lot of loyal customers.
In an industry that has a high turnover and burnout rate, the Edwards are remarkably energetic and enthusiastic, even after more than 20 years in the industry.
They have previously being involved with Joondalup’s The Old Bailey, owned the Whitfords Tavern for 13 years, and have owned Villa Bianchi for the past seven years.
Mr Edwards said a real benefit of the partnership of owners was their diverse skills base.
“Janet is a qualified chef, which is a real advantage. If you employ people who know more than you do, that is a problem, but she understands how that side of things works,” he said.
The Blue Duck restaurant’s premises are owned by the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, one of Australia’s most popular and profitable surf life saving clubs. As previously reported by WA Business News, rent received from the Blue Duck restaurant provides between 35 per cent and 40 per cent of the club’s $500,000 annual revenue.
