Bacchus for sale

CHRISTINE CORNEGE

BYE BYE BACCHUS: Marcel and Helen Rood, Owners of Bacchus Restaurant, are selling after 16 years.

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In the subdued lighting of the Bacchus dining room, glasses glinting and ready for diners, Marcel Rood proudly looks back on the fine dining experience he created from what was once a steakhouse.

The Dutchman laughs when he talks about the restaurant he began with 16 years ago wagon wheels on the ceiling, formica tables, massive steaks, buffalo wings and spare ribs served on huge wooden plates shaped like cows.

Now the Main St restaurant is for sale as Marcel and his wife Helen plan to focus solely on their newest venture, eco-cafe Raupo, which they now plan to open for dinner currently it closes in the late afternoon.

Raupo, a relaxed cafe on the banks of the Taylor River, opened in May last year.

Bacchus was put on the market last weekend.

Mr Rood said despite his passion for fine dining and the immense work he and his wife had put into Bacchus, it was simply too much to run both businesses.

He had already received interest in Bacchus from potential buyers in Blenheim, Nelson and France.

Mr and Mrs Rood bought Bacchus, then called The Corral, in 1991. Eight years later the couple completely rebuilt the restaurant, increasing seats from 50 to 100 by building an extension when an adjoining petrol station was pulled down.

Mr Rood said with the advent of vineyards and the wine culture, Blenheim was quickly developing a market for fine dining.

"Everyone said we were mad, but it was really successful," he said.

"When we started it, I was so proud. And I'm still proud of it, actually, still really proud of it now. The work was real, and I love fine dining, but it's too much to do two [restaurants]."

Working 12- to 13-hour days, six days a week, Mr Rood said he simply could not sustain the workload.

So instead the Roods will change focus to a more relaxed dining style in their eco-cafe on the riverside, where they will extend the opening hours.

"It will be more casual, people can sit on the veranda and have a drink with a platter that's the way we want it go."

Mr Rood was confident Bacchus would sell, despite the much-talked about economic downturn.

He said in the past two months the restaurant had been extremely busy, which he put down to people using their money on smaller treats instead of expensive holidays or cars.

Mr Rood said he would be happy to "guide" the new owners as they took over, but also did not mind if they decided to change the format of the restaurant.

"It does not matter to me. I hope that it will go well for them, that they can make a good living out of it. I hope they will do well."

- © Fairfax NZ News