--Memorial

-ARTS EVENTS
’ Compiled by Ann
Hamilton

Around Town is ‘a free service
provided for non-profit and
community arts groups. ‘Please
fax a press release for your cnter-
tainment cvent to 985-2104.
The News tries to ensure items
ay in the paper at least once
tefore the event takes place, but
space constraints may limit the
number of submissions printed.
For guaranteed publication con-
tact classified (986-6222) or dis-
play advertising (980-0511).

+ Government of Canada
Fine Arts Gallery (W.V.
Library):
Emerging from the Dark,

‘Simple formula key

works in pencil, pastels, and
watercolors by artist Wilfred
Alinas, to Aug. 31; Local
Scenes, watercolors and egg
tempera works by Michael

Brouillet, to Aug. 31. Lower

Mainland artists who would
like to apply for an exhibit
during the 1997 schedule at
the library gallery are invited
to submit works for selec-
tion. Call 925-7410 for
details,

Ferry Building Gallery:
Hot Kisses, sculptures and
paintings by artist Peter Kiss,
ongoing to Aug. 11 Gallery
hours: Tues.-Sun, 12-8 p.m.
Free admission, Info: 925-
7290,

Silk Purse Arts Centre:
Art Exhibition, acrylic and
oil paintings by artist Ollic
Pritchard, Ang. 6-11.

Gallery -hours:, Tuesday to

See more page 14

Wednesday, August 7, 1996 — North Shore News — 13

uccess

Timothy
Renshaw _

Cactus Ciub, 1598 Pemberton
Ave., North Vancouver. 986-
5776. Visa, MasterCard and
American Express accepted.
Open everyday from 11:30 a.m.
Fully licensed. Take the kids or
call a babysitter? You could do
either.

Menu for today:
HB Chilled ales and restaurant tales

TIME to renew that Cactus
Club membership. _

It will open a lot of doors: Behind
Door No. 1: Fun; Door No. 2: Food;
Door No. 3: Refreshment; Door No. 4:
Social interaction.

If you’re lucky you might even run ©

-into the Clué’s presiding founders and
bright young entrepreneurs-in-resi-
dence: Scott Morison and. Richard
Jaffray.

The two are now into the 10th year
of their profitable partnership, the last
eight of which have been spent coaxing
the Cactus Club into full bloom.

From the humble beginnings of
their two-man Cafe Cucamongas
restaurant in Vancouver back in 1986,
Morison and Jaffray now preside over.a
chain of seven Cactus Clubs that
employs close to 400 people and gener-

CACTUS COWBOYS ... After launching their first restaurant in 1886, °
Cactus Club partners Richard Jatfray and Scott Morison (seated)
now preside over a chain of seven Cactus Clubs.

NEWS photo Brad Lodwidge

FOUR concerts remain in West Vancouver
Cultural Services’ series of free outdoor
performances at John Lawson Park. Anne
Balzer, Pat Mcinerney (centre) and Peter
Lozowski of the Vancouver Mandolin
Society entertain on a recent sunny day.
Performances are Saturdays at 2 p.m. to
Aug. 31. _

to expanding culinary empire

ates about $14 million annually in gross
revenues.

Not bad for a pair of 31-year-olds.

The key to that success might best
be summed up by visiting the original
Cactus Clib on Pemberton Avenue in
North Vancouver.

It is Earls with a touch less starch in
the collar. A place with a sunny person-
ality grounded in fun, informality and
good quality international finger food.

But the road to the top has not
been without its potholes. \

Morison and Jaffray first teamed up
as waiters in Bus Fuller’s progressive
Earls restaurant chain.

Kurt theirs was a destiny with far
more expansive horizons than manning
tables in a restaurant.

In 1986, they embarked on their
first adventure: Cafe Cucamongas.

Two years later, with some seed :
money from Earls, the first Cactus Club
was born in what used to be the
Maverick steak house and at one time
was the family abode of the KnilPs
alarm folk, whose business is still next ©
door. ae 7

Restaurant ownership sounded like a
good idea at the time. :

And, hey, when you’re in your early
20s you know pretty well all there is '
worthwhile to know anyway right?

Ah ... well maybe not everything. -
Fame and fortune did not immediately | -
pound upon the duo’s door. «' a

As Jaffray says, “We almost didn’t
make it.” oo om

But they toughed it out... a

They ditched the Cactus Clad break-
fast shift. Noses were re-applied to ser: ..
vice grindstones, Blood was sweat from...
determined brows. :: ree

And then things began to roll. |

A year later, Cactus Club No. 2 was
opened on West 10th Avenue in”
Vancouver. In 1990, Cactus Clubs
opened on Kingsway and Robson,’ ~~
Another was added in Richmond in
1991, wd

Cactus Club membership was grow-
ing by leapsand bounds.

The Morison-Jaffray magic was gen-"..
erating sparks the length and breadth of
the land. They could do no wrong.

Then came Alberta: - °° 8S 8. 0
. Jaffray’s homeland. Prime country. - -
for Cactus Club philosophies. Hungry:
hombres. Gunslingers, Fun-lovers. :
Fertile land for astute West Coasters.

The Cactus Ciub forces were massed
on the border. An assault foliowed. .

See Cactus page is 7