Moore's Riverboat Makes the News!

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BayAreaBoater

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But not in the way that they would like...

I would normally post both sides to a story, but since the operators of the restaurant chose to "stonewall" the reporter that was looking into the situation, I have no choice but to only report what was said by the complaining party and the reporter that tried to help out.

A column in the CoCo County Times called "Action Line", received a complaint from a band that was contracted/scheduled to play at Moore's. Upon the band's arrival, they were told by Joe's wife, Kim, in an unfriendly manner, that she overbooked for the night and wouldn't need their services. She handed them $40 bucks for gas and told them to leave. She refused to pay them their contracted fee and told them that they were running a business and couldn't afford to pay two bands. She also said that double bookings "happen all of the time". (What???) [:-boggled] After the band complained some more, she gave them another $20. Joe then spoke to them and told them the same story. They then left.

I know Moore's has had some real loser's running the restaurant this past decade or so, so this should be of no surprise, but geez, you'd think they should be able to handle band bookings without screwing people over!

My days of enjoying Moore's Riverboat go back to 1977. We made a tradition of enjoying the ceremonial opening night of the season and the closing night of the season for quite a few years. I got to belly up to the bar with Hal Schell quite a few of those times. It was a blast!

Sadly, since the place has been leased out to others to run the restaurant, it has never been the same. We haven't had a 100% satisfactory meal/experience there in years.

For example, last year we took quite a few guests with us for a day-trip to Moore's as part of a "tour the Delta" day. We stopped in there about 11:30am for lunch. The place was about one-fourth full. We had a party of 11. The bubble-gum chewing teenage female greeter asked us how many we had and if we had a reservation. I looked at her and said, "reservation???". I then looked around (again) and saw plenty of open tables and a pretty much empty bar and asked her if she was expecting a crowd to show up. She said, "no, not really", so I then asked her why couldn't we just move a couple of tables together and sit down so we can enjoy our lunch. She told us that she would go check with her manager and would be right back. Over five minutes later, she still hadn't returned. I apologized to our guests and we left to head over to Tower Park for lunch. We couldn't believe it! [:O]

So, sadly, I guess after Labor Day wraps up next week, we might expect to read about yet another failed proprietor at Moore's...

What a shame to destroy a Delta Legacy like Moore's!

John Moore must be turning over in his grave...
 
Unfortunately it's common. There are places I've been going for 20 years, longer than any of the employees or managers and treated poorly.

Same thing for some online vendors. I quit shopping at Tiger Direct

Seems like most employees don't realize it's the customers that pay their wages.
 
OMG!!!!! [:O]

Sounds like stiffing a band is the least of their problems!!!

While pounding down a few at the yacht club, I was telling a few fellow boaters about the article that I posted here. Well, the word on the water is that Moore's is in worse shape then ever.

Some of the guys were talking about the Health Dept's inspections of the place. WOW!!! [:O]

They were not only cited for violations, they were CLOSED down!!! And not just once, but TWICE just this summer alone!!!

And to make matters worse, upon reinspection, the inspector noticed that the red-tag had been tampered with (apparently removed and re-applied)! Are you kidding me??? Geeeez!!! (as a side note, it is a known practice for establishments that have been red-tagged to remove the tag once the inspector has left and after their inspection work hours so the establishment can open back up and make money--- HIGHLY illegal and thoroughly disgusting!)

The initial violations were rat feces, inoperative water faucet at the sushi sink, mold on the cutting boards and no hot water, just to mention a few! Many of them were repeat violations!!! [:-yuck]

But don't take my word for it, check out the website- http://www.foodinspect.saccounty.net/default.aspx Just enter Moore's Riverboat in the search box and you'll go right to the violation page.

And one of the guys also mentioned numerous poor reviews on YELP. Go to: http://www.yelp.com/biz/moores-riverboat-isleton-2 I am not much of a user of Yelp, but I know enough to look around. You need to utilize the "filtered" reviews as well. For some reason, Yelp filters some of the reviews. You need to click on the "filtered" box at the bottom of the reviews to access additional reviews.

WOW, I couldn't believe what I was reading!

What a crying shame! :(
 
quote:
Originally posted by jtybt15

Unfortunately it's common. There are places I've been going for 20 years, longer than any of the employees or managers and treated poorly.

Same thing for some online vendors. I quit shopping at Tiger Direct

Seems like most employees don't realize it's the customers that pay their wages.

Click to expand...


You got that right!
 
Until I read about the health code issues my initial thought was that while she was away to check with the manager, move some tables together and sit down. However it sounds like she did you and your group a big favor....
 
This is really sad to read.

Not supporting Moore's, but when a restaurant is running a very tight budget, they probably do not have enough food available to feed a large group without a reservation. The reservation gives the manager/chef a chance to run to the store!
 
Restaurants on the Loop have always been hit and miss when it comes to service and food. I wouldn't want to try to be in that business. The owners of Moore's took over what used to be the Lighthouse and opened it as Joe's Sports Bar and Grill. We've eaten there a number of times since it's a short walk from Willowberm. So far, we've had good meals and service. I'm a little reluctant now if the kitchen is in the same shape as their other restaurant.
 
It's not just Moore's.

Joe & Kim also run (as mentioned) the old Lighthouse restaurant and the one at Happy (haha) Harbor.

They have some interesting health dept reviews as well... [xx(]

There oughtta be a law!!! [:-idea]

[:-spin]
 
Yes, Moore's is closed and the marina owners are now considering options of a new lease or operating it themselves, according to our latest Riverboat Marina Newsletter. Word on the street is that not only were there health code problems, there were also rent payment problems. But at the reported $8000 per month, I think few of us could make a profit at Delta Loop prices.

We had high hopes that this latest management team would continue to provide the quality and affordable meals we thought we were getting! What a disappointment.
 
To bad about Moores. Havent been there for a while, but used to be a good place to stop.
Al, wanted to say hi. Havent talked to you for a while. Hope all is well with you and your wife and you are having a good summer.
The wife and I along with the qroup we used to tie up with joined the Power Squadron, they have a great island with nice docks, so we are spending most of our time there.
If your in the area stop by and say hello. The beer is cold and I think your brand (Sierra Nevada)
Guess I shouldnt hijack the thread, so I'll say by for now.
 
Yes, it's very sad that yet another operator of a legendary Delta facility has closed down.

Unfortunately, Moore's operators closing down have become an all too familiar occurance. And yes, I agree that an $8,000 monthly nut is a tough one to crack, but the way that the latest operators ran the place, their closing was no surprise.

Sadly, Ken hasn't appeared to be too much involved in getting a quality tenant in the place. Any Riverboat regulars already know that Elvera was the driving force of the restaurant for decades. Ken handled the rest of the marina's operations and she ran the restaurant. When she passed away, the heart and soul of the place was lost forever...

And speaking of Elvera's passing, I heard that Ken has already remarried. Elvera has been gone, what, about three years?

Elvera was a classy lady. Back when we regularly spent the night tied up to the docks of the Riverboat for dinner and then breakfast the next morning before we headed for our home port, Elvera always took the time to chat with us. One evening, she recommended a certain wine to go with our meal. We really enjoyed that wine. When she heard how much we liked her recommendation, at the end of our meal, she brought our change to us along with a paper bag with something in it and told us to "enjoy a gift from me tonight while on the boat", and gave us a big smile. Inside the bag, was another bottle of our new favorite wine! [:-bonc01]

Yes, a classy lady she was... [:-angel]
 
The only way to have a successful restaurant these days is to have the owners of the property run the place as a service to their marina customers and not as a separate profit (loss) center unless they need a big tax write-off. Most restaurants barely make it during the summer and only by having brisk liquor sales. A good bar can help a lot. Just too much overhead costs and then the off season is a real killer too....
 
Yeah Flutterby, I hear what you are saying.

My take on the situation (and not just with Moore's, but with MOST places these days) is that when the founders (as in this case, the Moore's) started the business, it was years ago and at minimal cost as compared to todays prices. Plus, they didn't have to deal with most of the regulatory agencies and other bureaucratic nonsense that businesses today have to. And as you state, the restaurant was "amortized" into the overall cost of their ownership, and not a seperate stand-alone entity (profit center).

Two other very close examples are the Delta Sportsman and Marine Emporium.

Sure, both of those businesses were money-makers for their original owners (and rightfully so). But when it came time for the owners (both the late Chuck and Joe) to "retire" and cash out of their businesses, both had a heck of a time selling their places. Marine Emporium was up for sale for at least three years that I personally know of, and even longer for Delta Sportsman.

Everyone knows the (very sad) end result of both of them.

Unless a new buyer has either all or mostly cash to put up front for the payment, the monthly nut is too much to crack. Sure, the current income was fine for the original owners to make a living, but when a new person has to pay the current price for the place, the numbers just don't add up.

Tiki Lagun is another classic example. When Harold sold it to Jerry back in the early 80's, Jerry thought he was gonna cut a fat hog. He had all kinds of plans for the place. Sadly, they all took money. And lots of it. Two years later, he went from multi-millionaire to being bankrupt.

And lets not forget Lost Isle. How many "owners" did Bill have to carry the financing for? About four or five??? How many succeeded?

As the old saying goes, it takes money to make money... ;)
 
My two (non-borrowed) cents on the Moore's situation:

It starts at the top.

The rent has to be lowered from the reported 8K per month to a level that a start-up business can make a living. Maybe a base rent plus percentage. A lot of businesses use the "triple-net" calculation.

Realize that it is a seasonal business. As a seperate operator (apart from the rest of the operation at Moore's) you don't have the year-round cashflow that the marina and boatyard do. That is how Moore's successfully ran for decades. Closed during the winter, open when the folks were out to support the place. Unfortunately, the person that doesn't own the entire operation doesn't have that luxury. And that does makes it harder to run a successful business.

Get a well experienced management team that knows Delta people and not just some yahoo's from San Francisco (been there, done that, and FAILED!!!) or others that just want to "get into the restaurant business".

Skip the white tablecloth and reservation "attitude".

Cater to the boating crowd once again. Face it, the locals aren't going to make you rich and despite the promotion, there isn't much outside "drive-by" traffic on the loop. They are fine for a portion of the customer "base", but not the bread and butter. You also need to draw the folks back in that wrote the place off over the past 10 years or so when the newbies/outsiders that took over did such damage to Moore's reputation.

Get back to basics. Great customer service (including having a person down on the docks to assist boaters with docking their boats), great tasting food, a nice selection (but not too much) and a quick and easy "in and out" for the customers that want that. Not everyone wants to spend the day there. If more boaters knew that they could pop-in, grab a beer and a burger, then get back out on the water, it would greatly help out the bottom line. And if they decided to stay longer, that's great too!

Sure, there are more things that a person could do, but I think these are just some of the basics.

Remember, it was us Delta River Rats that helped make Moore's a Delta Legend in the first place. I think the recent operators of the place felt that they could cater to the locals by wining and dining them with (so-called) "fine cuisine" and make a living off of just them.

Screw the "fine cuisine". Bring back the basics and be sure to include the (then) world famous Moore's crawdawds! [:-bouncy]

The panties on the ceiling wouldn't hurt either! [:-eyebrows] [:-pirate] :D

Make a name for the place (once again)!
 
Just curious, what happened to the Marine Emporium? I bought a boat from Joe back in 2005. Both he and his wife were very nice. He talked about selling the place back then. I know he has since passed away. Has the place been sold - with bad results these days?
 
Yes, the Marine Emporium was sold, but the buyer couldn't keep up with the payments and Joe had to take it back.

He was asking three million and then dropped it to two million. The last price that I saw for it was $1.9 million with owner financing.

Since his passing, I am not sure who owns/runs it now.

I looked at the place as I drove over the bridge to take my motorhome back to Sugar Barge last week and the place looked very quiet. Of course, it's the season, so being quiet is not out of the ordinary.

I don't care what the county says, the new bridge has essentially killed off most of the "drive-by" business for M.E. and the old Keller's liquor store. You pretty much have to be going to them now, rather than just stop by because of the convenience.

Sad, very sad...
 
That's too bad. I was on the M.E. website. Under the Contact Us is an email address with a name I do not recognize. I haven't been to B.I. since the new bridge was built. Is it a different road now, from what the M.E. is on? Every time I drive past Das Cliff Haus and see it rotting away, is also sad. Had lots of fun there years ago.
 
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