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The last day of the Oasis, as it’s been known under the ownership of the Tougas family, will be March 7, but Menlo Park City Councilman Ray Mueller told City Manager Alex McIntyre, City Attorney Bill McClure and Economic Development Manager Jim Cogan in a March 2 email that the Tougas family is open to speaking to potential operators “interested in licensing or buying the trademark, brand and menu of the Oasis, and operating the restaurant in (a) way that gives credit to the restaurant and family’s history and place in the Menlo Park community.”
Mr. Mueller added that property owner Dan Beltramo had indicated that he is in the process of finding a new operator for the site and wishes to discuss parking capacity at the restaurant with the city.
“I am cautiously optimistic the pieces are coming together that will keep the Oasis operating in Menlo Park,” Mr. Mueller wrote in the email.
See earlier reporting on the pending closure of the Oasis here.
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Great!!
Let’s hope the “O” can continue without major changes – it’s too bad that rent increases apparently are what are causing the current renters – the Tougas family – to lose the lease, and I hoped that could have been remedied. We don’t want to lose more of Menlo Park’s history and see longtime tenants lose their business. Remember Menlo Park’s hardware store, closed because of rent increases, and the loss of a family’s long-time business? We have a hardware store back, but the loss of the original hardware stor was a sad day, and due to rent increases.
And how many middle- and low-income families and individuals can afford to rent or buy in Menlo Park? We need a balance between profits and affordable rents and home prices to keep a diverse population in Menlo Park.
Kudos to Vice Mayor Mueller, who has also worked with other City Council members to encourage the proposal to bring a new Guild to our community, with live entertainment, and “community benefits”, which we are lobbying to include film and film arts programming to complement the proposed expansion at the venue of Kepler’s literary arts programming.
The Oasis is another kind of community “institution” to be sure, but as a longtime “watering hole” for Stanford’s population, and a genuinely unique place to have lunch and relax with buddies, I’m all for its continuation. Back in the 80s I joined friends on a women’s softball team that was sponsored by Joan Baez. I haven’t carved my name on a table, but I hope the “historic” tables are kept in service, as well as the photos and keepsakes that grace its walls.
If the current owners can’t afford to do business with the increased rent, what makes anyone think that another owner will be willing or able to afford the rent.