A Moray businessman is looking to lease his “unique” and popular restaurant overlooking the picturesque coast near Buckie.
Bijou by the Sea was closed 14 months ago for an “ambitious” re-development and locals have been anxious to know when the restaurant on Great Eastern Road will reopen ever since.
But, now the cost of building has “skyrocketed”, owner David Robertson says he is not in a position to carry out the revamp.
Instead, Mr Robertson hopes to find someone to take on the coastal restaurant.
The businessman also owns Buckie newsagent, gift and coffee shop JP Pozzi, as well as the Bijou coffee and gift shop in Elgin.
With other businesses to look after, he explained it would be “foolhardy” to take on such a large project at the time, especially when its costs had risen three fold.
So instead, he is hoping to lease waterfront building to someone looking to start up their own hospitality business.
Mr Robertson said he has no intention of selling the building in spite of numerous approaches.
‘No doubt this building could be a huge success’
Mr Robertson said: “While it is very sad I cannot build the vision that is in my head and bring this building to life, in the way I imagine that does not mean that it cannot be a huge success as it is.
“In truth, the building was working well as it was, and its re-opening will give a boost to the area in terms of another place to go and in terms of a mix of jobs created.”
While Mr Robertson, recently named Newsagent of the Year, acknowledges hospitality is a difficult sector at the moment he believes it is still very busy.
The businessman believes because of its unique location overlooking Portessie Bay there is nowhere else quite like it and people in Moray and beyond miss it.
‘Touched’ by local support
Mr Robertson says the support for Bijou by the Sea has been “unbelievable” and there are always people asking when it will reopen.
He said they have been “very touched” by all the support their businesses have received.
Mr Robertson said: “We’re very very pleased with the support from the community, the number of people who have asked when the building will reopen again, and the love that has been shown for the business.
“We’re very touched and still proud to operate businesses in Elgin and Buckie, employing a lot of people locally.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the opportunity at Bijou by the Sea should contact Mr Davidson by emailing pozziltdoffice@gmail.com
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