Neptune's rising another sign of confidence in downtown dining
A 1950s, sci-fi-themed diner opening in the former home of downtown London's beloved Prince Albert’s Diner is a homecoming for Rob Noel.
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A 1950s, sci-fi-themed diner opening in the former home of downtown London’s beloved Prince Albert’s Diner is a homecoming for Rob Noel.
It was on that spot in 1985 that he opened Prince Al’s, turning the keys over 11 years later to Betsy Gallo and Bill Spigos who ran it for 25 years until shutting the doors recently.
Monday, Noel officially celebrates his return to the spot with the opening of Neptune, a “slick” looking restaurant with a retro feel, he said.
“How many opportunities do you have to do something cool, something relevant? And this may be my last shot,” said Noel. “If you do something well, people will want to go. This is a wonderful corner. It has elements of success built into it.”
For core-area business and restaurant watchers, Neptune’s opening is a sign of investment that continues to flow downtown.
In 2021, Downtown London listed 35 new business openings in the core, many of them restaurants and cafes. This year to date, 26 more have opened or plan to, most of them restaurants and take-out eateries, said Barb Maly, executive director of Downtown London.
“There’s a lot happening downtown. It’s very positive news,” she said of the interest.
Maly is not blind to issues of homelessness and those suffering from addiction and mental health issues that challenge the core. In addition she battles a commercial vacancy rate of nearly one-third, as well as ongoing street construction that disrupts traffic.
“They see downtown as a future opportunity,” she said of businesses that continue to open. “It’s not all doom and gloom. Look at the residences being built. There are good stories here and these businesses are committed to downtown.”
Take a stroll in the core-area and patios will be filled this spring, proving there is support for dining downtown, said Chris McDonell, publisher of Eat Drink Magazine in London. “Things are picking up. I wouldn’t say it’s great now, but there are reasons for optimism.”
He cited ongoing staff shortages and supply chain issues as other challenges with which eateries must cope. “In this business, people just keep moving forward,” he said.
Bryan Lavery, a London chef, said the growth of eateries is happening in many areas of the city, not just the core.
“I’m not surprised. There’s a huge client base there still. Go downtown to Richmond Street and many restaurants are full.”
For Noel, the opening is a return to the business from which he walked away. He owns the building and collected rent, really not working much at all, he admits.
But he still has “diner cred” from his Prince Al’s history and has partnered with restaurateur Ian Prangley, who will manage day-to-day operations of Neptune.
“I collected rent on time for 308 months in a row. I had 26 years off with pay,” he said. “I haven’t had a job. The building made good money. I travelled.”
Downtown London 2022: New Businesses
- Teetee’s Tacos, 210 Dundas St.
- Ann Dining, 140 Ann St.
- Forest City Microgreens, 71 King St.
- Modern Aesthetics, 103 King St.
- Mezza, 244 Dundas St.
- Gourmet Deli, 380 Wellington St, TD Towers
- WEAN Community Centre, 717 Richmond St, Unit 210
- Cheros House of Pupusas, Covent Garden Market
- Luna Evening Gowns, 205 Oxford St.
- Nail Gawdz, 609 Richmond St.
- Maison Istanbul, 644 Richmond St.
- Of the Earth Co., Covent Garden Market
- Three Graces Tattoo, 200 Dundas
- Plaza Sushi, 519 Richmond St.
- Jay’s Parlour Salon, 286 Dundas St.
- Cloud Nine, 292 Dundas St.
- Poke Poke, 205 Oxford St.
- Saisha’s Patisserie, 208 Piccadilly St.
- Neptune, 565 Richmond St.
- NOAH, One London Place
- Acai Bowl, 116 Dundas St.
- Buzz Bagels, 160 Dundas St.
- Tropical Food terminal and Bells and Birdies restaurant, 344.5 Richmond St.
- Cherry’s Desserts, 177 Dundas St.
- Fresh Burrito, 685 Dundas St.
- Richard’s Clothing, 57 York St.
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