I don't have to ask you whether or not you have cut back on dining out. Not only do the surveys tell me we are dining out less, a slow cruise along the White Rock waterfront clearly identifies the restaurants that are still even open, are struggling.
The contributing factors are lengthy.
Increased minimum wage
Skyrocketing rents
Food cost increases
Dining habits changing
We are drinking less alcohol
Parking rates?
There are probably more extenuating factors but the above are the most often quoted.
I believe high rents for commercial spaces most certainly factor heavily into the bleak dining landscape in White Rock. One only has to look at the recently vacated BOATHOUSE restaurant. For years the rent was rumoured to be $25,000.00 monthly. With no advance warning the landlord jumped the rend by 20% to $30,000.00. For years we had heard rumbling the restaurant was having a tough time bouncing back after covid. A malady that affected most dining establishments. Due to COVID most people avoided crowded situations with people we did not know.
In my humble opinion I believe a huge contributing factor is our drinking habits have changed. I speak of my age group "The Baby Boomer" the generation who powered every factor of society with our disposable income in the 80's. 90's and early 2000's.
According to the recent statistics;
Baby Boomers: 1946–1964 Cut way back probably due to a healthier lifestyle later in our years
Generation X (Gen X): 1965–1980 Taking up a bit of the slack yet not what Baby Boomers contributed
Millennials (Gen Y): 1981–1996 Here is where the rubber hits the road, this age group when dining out does not spend much money on alcohol
Generation Z (Gen Z): 1997–2012 May not even leave their parents basement. Door dash.
If you think you can go out for dinner and not drink alcohol think again. The common practice of ordering a "virgin" cocktail (no alcohol) is not a solution anymore. Most restaurants are now pricing those drinks at close to the version with alcohol.
Two dearly departed friends who both owned dining establishments provided great insight to dining out.
1. The profit on food was not much more than 10%. Alcohol was the saving grace.
2. If the profit from year to year dropped 10% one would simply bump the menu prices up 15% to ensure holding steady or showing some sign of growth in the coming fiscal year. This short term solution will soon reach a tipping point. And we may be there now.
Again from my own unscientific research, if the sale of alcohol has gone down, restaurants have had to reflect that loss in raising the price of entrees on the menu.
A vicious cycle.
It is tough out there and I feel for restaurants. The strong will survive, but barely and things don't look very rosy for the future.
At least IN MY OPINION.
David Chesney
Editor/Publisher
Local News
April 10, 2026
Improving conduct standards for local governments
Communities will benefit from clear, province wide conduct rules for local leaders.
The Province has introduced legislative amendments that would allow it to establish a mandatory, province wide code of conduct for all local elected officials in B.C. with clear processes for complaints, investigations and sanctions. Conduct issues can include bullying or harassment in meetings, harassment of staff or disrespectful behaviour between elected officials that can make governing a community challenging.
“While many local governments have conduct codes today, they are not consistent across jurisdictions and often lack clear steps to address conduct issues,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities. “Once in place, a provincial code of conduct will ensure all local elected officials are held to the same ethical standards across B.C., help avoid dysfunction at the local level and improve fairness and public trust in local governments.”
- Community members to appear before council with concerns of increasingly exterior lights on condos and houses.
- New Westminster Labour Council / Day of Mourning. Information on workers health and safety issues.
- Update on food cart program on our waterfront this summer
- Corporate report on Westcoasters Car Club car show part of this year's 75th annual Sea Festival
- Pickleball Fees for Centennial pickleball courts
- Traffic calming on Marine Drive between Cypress Street and Finlay street
- White Rock financial plan 2026-2030 First, second and third reading
- Proposal for Official Community Plan Amendment
- Hogg Park Community Garden / request for staff report on feasibility.
April 09, 2026
Future of Dogs on Crescent Beach
The posted signs along Crescent Beach still clearly state NO DOGS allowed along the beach area walkway between May 15-September 15. The official announcement below gave dog owners hope they would be able to walk their dogs along the beach in the summer months.
With roughly a month to go Surrey has not released the results of its pilot program study they conducted last year.
Dogs at Crescent Beach
Surrey Council voted Monday, June 23, 2025 to endorse a pilot project that allowed on-leash dogs on Crescent Beach's walking path, on weekdays only (excluding Statutory holidays). The pilot project is now complete. City staff is preparing a report based on the findings of the pilot project for council consideration.
Dogs at Blackie Spit
Dogs are also welcome in areas of the neighbouring Blackie Spit Park, located to the north of Crescent Beach.
Blackie Spit Park has parking, its own beach access, a trail system and two dog off-leash areas, including the only dog off-leash swim area in Surrey.
You can use this fenced swimming area when the tide is in, so check before you go and ensure your dog doesn’t enter the adjacent Environmentally Sensitive Area.
April 08, 2026
Clean Out The Attic!
Museum of Surrey open submissions for Community Treasures exhibitions series
Museum of Surrey (MOS) is opening applications for the Community Treasures exhibition series, for 2027. Community Treasures is a gallery space for community members, individuals, and cultural organizations from Surrey to showcase their treasures and share their stories with the public.
These temporary, submission-based exhibits give visitors an inside look into Surrey’s unique stories and experiences – straight from you, the community. Visitors get to view items that would normally be unavailable to see elsewhere.
Editors Note: Do you realize Surrey once had its very own singing cowboys ALBERTA SLIM?
"Slim" took the backseat out of his big old Cadillac car in order to squeeze his trick horse kitten into where the backseat used to be.
Final selections are chosen by the Museum’s Community Advisory Board. Members review in September and exhibits are scheduled for the following year.
All Surrey residents are invited to read the Community Treasures guidebook to learn more about application guidelines and send their submissions online
.......or contacting the Exhibits Team on thewebsite.
April 07, 2026
Movin' On Up
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Whalers organization as I take the next step in my journey with the Surrey Eagles Junior A hockey club in the BCHL.
It has been an incredible experience to be part of the Whalers and to help foster the growth of junior hockey in our community. I’m excited about the new challenge ahead, but I will always cherish my time here and the support from Ownership and the entire Whalers organization.
Thank you for everything you’ve done to shape hockey in South Surrey. The future of junior hockey here is bright, and I look forward to watching it continue to thrive.
David Rutherford - Former Whalers Head Coach
Fun Dull Fact!
I live near the longest wooden pier in Canada.
The White Rock pier in British Columbia.
It stretches 470 metres (1540 feet for our American friends) it was rebuilt after a major storm wiped it out in 2018.
No Dogs allowed, but it didnt say anything about cats
April 06, 2026
A Third Candidate For Mayor of Surrey
UPDATE April 08
Mike Starchuk announced his slate for council at the Tuesday evening meeting. KEVIN WILIE, NARIMA DELLA CRUZ, YOUSEF ALDABAINAH, DR. MARGARET MUBANDA and ASIYANA HANIF will make up the slate for IMAGINE SURREY.
Mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk is set to officially launch his “Imagine Surrey” campaign tomorrow evening.
Starchuk will also introduce his full city council slate and outline key ideas for the future of the city.
Mike Starchuk is the past MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, former Surrey City Councillor, and a proud "active/retired" member of Surrey Fire Fighters' IAFF Local 1271.
A resident of Surrey for more than 50 years, he has dedicated his life to helping others in his community.
Location: Royal King Palace Banquet Hall (Payal Business Center) 8158 128 St, Surrey
Date: April 7 / Open To The Public
April 05, 2026
Motorcycle incident during RCMP training in Surrey
Yesterday (Saturday April 4, 2026), at approximately 10:10 a.m., officers from various RCMP units were participating in a Motorcycle Escort re‑certification course in Surrey.
While travelling southbound on 152 Street near 100th avenue @ Guildford on fully marked RCMP police motorcycles, a BC Highway Patrol officer was rear‑ended by another BC Highway Patrol officer. Officers immediately rendered first aid and requested BC Emergency Health Services assistance. One officer was transported to hospital with serious injuries and remains in hospital. The other officer was taken to hospital as well, then was released and returned to the training course.
Antonio Larosa is a country-rock and roots artist whose music blends the grit of blues, the soul of vintage rock, and the storytelling of classic country. With a voice that channels the spirit of Elvis Presley and the emotional weight of Chris Stapleton, Larosa creates songs that are heartfelt, lived-in, and unapologetically honest.
Sadly, this is yet another installment on the ongoing saga of the "vegetation control", "tree trimming" and de-facto clear cutting of the Hump hillside between West Beach and East Beach in White Rock. I have learned that once again the City of White Rock has contracted URBAN GROVE to remove trees from the Hump hillside that have grown enough to once again block views from Marine Drive condos. Many of these are sucker growth that resulted from the clear-cutting that took place back in 2015 where most of the established forest growing on the Hump was removed. This left an ugly scar along the waterfront visible from the length of the Promenade and the Pier that resulted in a loss of wildlife habitat, a reduction in raptor use and the drought death of the top 10 metres of the famed "Eagle Tree."
Editors Note - The City has never done any replanting on The Hump
British Columbia's Provincial legislation which forced municipalities to meet densification numbers now appears to be crumbling before our eyes.
TORONTO appears to be pushing ahead with densification. At least Toronto's designation for new builds designates the need for rapid approval must be on major rapid transit corridors.
Which is exactly what Metro Vancouver recommended way back when the first two highrise towers dropped into White Rock.
Thought For The Day
Tomorrow In THE SUN
Recipe of the Week
Chickpea Salad
Waterfront West Beach Live Camera
Check the weather @ the beach 24/7
It may be cloudy at your house, but the odds are good it is Sunny in White Rock
