Ole restaurant sold

[Guest buckeroo2]

Ole restaurant has been sold and will be under new ownership beginning next Saturday, August 1. I know a lot of the gay community has long supported this establishment when it was located in the Day-Night area and in its most recent location - not sure what soi it is on - but it is around the corner from the Body Language dance club and on the same soi as T & T Karaoke. The young Thai lady who owned it lost her husband to a heart attack 2 yrs ago. She told me that she was having a hard time making ends meet with the extreme drop in tourists during this low season. She told me that business is down by more than 50% when compared to past low seasons. The new owner is Swiss and he will bring his own staff so all of the long serving staff at the old Ole will lose their jobs at the end of this week. I have no idea what sort of restaurant the new owner will open.

[Gaybutton]

I have no idea what sort of restaurant the new owner will open.

Thank you for this post. I didn't know the restaurant had been sold. Many members of the gay community here always enjoyed the Wednesday night German buffet. Many would be there every week for it. It will certainly be of interest to many once we find out whether the new owners are going to continue those and, if he does, at what price.

 

I feel badly for the Ole staff who will now find themselves out of a job. Many have been with Ole for years and now they're probably in for quite a rough time finding new employment.

[Guest Oogleman]

wow! If that restaurant cant survive then a lot of others must be in big trouble. It was always popular and had a crowd when i ate there.

[atri1666]

In my 3 weeks i ate there many times and every day same customers and never was empty. Was knowing many of the gay staff for years. Must have been a secret decision. Nobody of the staff was knowing the restaurant has been sold. I am in contact with one waiter over gayromeo and will ask him. Just was wondering why the webcam no more is working.

[Gaybutton]

a lot of others must be in big trouble.

As far as I can tell, that's right. This year, with very few exceptions, I have yet to speak with any restaurant owner, bar owner, business owner, hotel owner, or any other owner who isn't complaining and quite worried about the lack of customers. I believe the tourist numbers are far less than the numbers the Thai government publishes, and the tourists who do come are spending a lot less money once they get here.

 

When I do see restaurants and venues crowded, they're usually the ones that are low priced or are offering promotions or one kind or another. Often, when I have commented to venue owners who do appear to be crowded that I'm happy to see that they're doing ok, the response I get is usually similar to, "That's today! Come by tomorrow and see if it's the same." Also, even when they're crowded, the customer turnover rate is much less than in previous years. Some restaurants, for example, that this time last year you couldn't get into without a reservation are now easy to walk into any time you want, with or without a reservation.

 

I think we all know by now that the tourist industry in Thailand is in serious trouble. I just hope the whole thing doesn't collapse.

[Guest joseph44]

I regularly visit some hotel-restaurants with Dutch-Thai management.

These people see of course a decrease in numbers of tourists, but they aren't complaining.

 

Hotel occupancy is 70-80% and restaurant could do better, but again: nothing to complain about.

 

I don't want to be very nasty, but if we keep telling each other how bad things are and where we will possibly end up..........things may end up very bad and in a disaster.

 

Just look on the bright side of life.

[Gaybutton]

if we keep telling each other how bad things are and where we will possibly end up..........things may end up very bad and in a disaster.

I disagree. While you may be absolutely right, facts are facts and I think people have the right to know the overall situation as it truly is. If your information is different, by all means tell us what you know, but I think everyone who is in a position to make these observations should let people know what's going on, without hiding it.

 

I don't think the gay community will stop coming to Thailand because of these reports. But if it was me making my plans to come to Thailand, I would prefer to know what to expect once I get there. I also believe if we start portraying the situation as if everything is just ginger peachy, and then people come here and see that it isn't, there goes our credibility.

[Guest Astrrro]

Bad for both the employees and the farangs who frequented Ole.

 

The Wednesday night German buffet was excellent. However, I try to avoid all you can eats cause I do have a tendency to pig out.

 

It seems there's a shake out where the strong will suirvive and the weak perish though Ole (to me at least) appeared strong.

 

As suggested above, many places are forced to cut prices. Many 100 baht Thai and foot massages are now available but back in January they were tucked away in secret corners of town. Think massage is price sensitive because most of us view the various shops as giving the exact same service making price paramount.

 

But if a venue can differentiate itself then price becomes much less important. Went to Euroboys last night and discovered that the 100 baht Singhas are now 135 baht. But with the best dancers in Pattaya and a no hassle atmosphere (maybe cause I'm known there)I'll pay the higher price though maybe I'll nurse my beer a bit more.

[PattayaMale]

I enjoyed Ole also and never found it empty. I thought they had rooms for rent above. Could this have led to the problem of not making ends meet?

[atri1666]

Yes they had 9 appartments for 1000 or 1200 baht/night. Entrance at the backside. Pictures you can see here http://www.ernestos-ole.com/images/appartenments/bildgalerie.htm.

The old owner Ernst S. died in 2007 (around july) shortly after opening in the new location.

[Guest buckeroo2]

In my 3 weeks i ate there many times and every day same customers and never was empty. Was knowing many of the gay staff for years. Must have been a secret decision. Nobody of the staff was knowing the restaurant has been sold. I am in contact with one waiter over gayromeo and will ask him. Just was wondering why the webcam no more is working.

One of the long time waiters told me that initially Ole was sold to a new Swiss owner and the change of ownership was to take place in September. Very recently the new owner moved up the date to Aug 1, 2009 and that updated information was just conveyed to the staff last week.

BTW, Buffet Wednesday was the one night I always avoided Ole.

After the smoking ban took effect in Thailand, it was never enforced at Ole. It seems that word got around that smoking was still permitted at Ole, and I would estimate that about 50% of the customers smoked in the restaurant along with close to 100% of the staff. The one waiter who did not smoke - the older heavier guy recently had his hours cut to 2 nights a week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On a trip to the dentist last month I was in the waiting room with the Thai lady who owns Ole. She told me that business was so slow that she sits up at night trying to think of new ways to bring in more money. But she did not tell me that the place was on the market.

Ole seems to be hit and miss as far as a customer base lately. Some nights I am there and there are 15-20 customers. The other night I was there at 9:30 PM and I was the only customer in the place.

I have talked to many business owners, friends who are waiters in restaurants and bars, hotel staff, etc and every single person has told me that they have never seen business so slow. I know a guy who manages condos in a large condo building in South Pattaya and he told me that short -term bookings are down 60-70%. I do not think it is a matter of looking at the glass half full or half empty - the glass is simply empty.

[Gaybutton]

Ole is still doing their Wednesday night buffet. We just received that information. Tomorrow, Wednesday, a group of us are going. I'll let you know what additional information we are able to find out once we have it.

[Gaybutton]

I didn't go to Ole last night (Wednesday) after all. However, several of my friends did and the same buffet was served. Unfortunately, nobody was able to get any additional information. The previous and current owners were not there and none of the waiters spoke enough English to understand. So, for now, nobody knows what's next for Ole or if the Wednesday buffets will continue.

[Guest buckeroo2]

I didn't go to Ole last night (Wednesday) after all. However, several of my friends did and the same buffet was served. Unfortunately, nobody was able to get any additional information. The previous and current owners were not there and none of the waiters spoke enough English to understand. So, for now, nobody knows what's next for Ole or if the Wednesday buffets will continue.

I walked by Ole today and met the new owner - seems a nice enough chap. I talked to one of the waiters - a holdover from the old Ole - the 30-something kind of chunky guy who has been at Ole for many years and recently had his hours cut to just Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He will be back at work full-time. There is a sign posted in front of the restaurant advertising for waiter(s). I asked this waiter why the other waiters were not offered positions if the new owner has a need for waiters and he told me that the other waiters were offered jobs but they turned down the offer. He said they wanted some time off or wished to go home for a visit and the new owner needs waiters now.

He also told me that nothing will change - the Wednesday buffet will continue and they will just have more offerings and the new owner nodded. They will still have their nightly specials. He also told me that the kitchen staff has also been rehired so they will have the same cooks.

They are working on the changeover and are not sure when they will re-open. They hope to be open for the buffet this Wednesday but that is not a given.

 

I also walked by Happy go-go bar and the owner and one of his Thai staff were outside sprucing up the place. There was a large sign there announcing they will re-open on Aug 3, 2009.

[Guest ButterballBruce]

Thank you for the updates. I love the Wednesday buffets and always go when I'm in Pattaya. I'm usually the first to get there and the last to leave!

[Gaybutton]

This evening a group of friends went to Ole. The Wednesday night buffet is essentially the same. As a matter of fact they have a few new offerings, but nearly all of it is the same as it has always been, including that fantastic ham that so many say is the best in town. The price is also the same, 240 baht.

 

I met the new owner, a very personable Swiss gentleman named Ozzie. He said he is quite pleased to keep the buffet going. He had included several new additions to his regular menu as well and intends to add more as time goes on.

 

This low season is about the lowest I've ever witnessed in Pattaya, but the Wednesday night buffet at Ole always draws a crowd. There were plenty of customers this evening.

 

By the way, in honor of Her Majesty, the Queen's birthday, a national holiday in Thailand, the banks and most of the bars were closed this evening. Regarding the bars, it is my understanding they were not under orders to close. They were closed voluntarily.

[Guest buckeroo2]

This evening a group of friends went to Ole. The Wednesday night buffet is essentially the same. As a matter of fact they have a few new offerings, but nearly all of it is the same as it has always been, including that fantastic ham that so many say is the best in town. The price is also the same, 240 baht.

 

I met the new owner, a very personable Swiss gentleman named Ozzie. He said he is quite pleased to keep the buffet going. He had included several new additions to his regular menu as well and intends to add more as time goes on.

 

This low season is about the lowest I've ever witnessed in Pattaya, but the Wednesday night buffet at Ole always draws a crowd. There were plenty of customers this evening.

 

By the way, in honor of Her Majesty, the Queen's birthday, a national holiday in Thailand, the banks and most of the bars were closed this evening. Regarding the bars, it is my understanding they were not under orders to close. They were closed voluntarily.

I was at Ole on Tuesday night and they had about 20 customers - practically a mob by this slow season's standard. I cannot comment on the food - I decided not to eat there that night.