By Sarah Payne The Tri-City News

Sep 14 2007

The economy is booming and businesses are competing for qualified workers, but the Boathouse restaurant didn’t have a hard time luring applicants to its hiring fair earlier this month.

Between 700 and 800 hopeful waiters, hosts, prep cooks and bartenders applied for jobs at the new Port Moody restaurant, which opens on Sept. 26.

“In this day and age it’s incredible, it’s almost full employment out there,” said Kelly Gordon, vice president of operations. “We had so many good people apply we probably could have opened up a whole new restaurant.” About 120 were hired, with a handful more expected once the restaurant gets into full swing.

Most of the applicants were Tri-City residents and people already working in the restaurant industry, though Gordon assured that staff weren’t “poached” from other restaurants. In addition to kitchen staff and server positions the Boathouse has also hired workers for an outdoor concierge to help patrons find parking and to answer questions.

Attracting restaurant staff wasn’t a challenge, unlike the struggle to find qualified construction workers to build the new Rocky Point Park facility. The Boathouse is opening nearly three months later than planned; it was supposed to be ready in time for crowds of Golden Spike Days visitors. It’s also well past the April 2007 opening that was first suggested in early 2006.

The delayed opening puts a dent in the Boathouse’s pockets — summer is the chain’s highest revenue period — but also for Port Moody, which will get about $20,000 less in lease payments, fees and profit sharing this year.

Meanwhile, Alison Hackh and Steve Seki, owners of the now-closed Flying Fish and the new Sultri restaurant, are still pursuing their lawsuit against the city.

No court date has been set.