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‘Murder’ can be good for business at Steveston Seafood House

Running a busy restaurant can be murder. And for one of the city’s oldest establishments, it will literally be just that on Jan. 28 when the Steveston Seafood House stages another one of its murder mystery shows and dinner.
Dinner theatre
Trevor Jenkins, of Grim Reaper Murder Mysteries, takes notes from a previous murder mystery night promotion at the Steveston Seafood House, which will stage it’s 10th event Jan. 28 at the Ukrainian Hall. File photo

Running a busy restaurant can be murder. And for one of the city’s oldest establishments, it will literally be just that on Jan. 28 when the Steveston Seafood House stages another one of its murder mystery shows and dinner.

While the restaurant on Moncton Street has been a mainstay for the past 39 years, owner Shane Dagan told the News he’s been keen on hosting the popular annual dinner theatre event over the past decade as a way of having fun with a segment of his clientele and not strictly as a means of stirring up new business.

And for the first time, it will be presented outside the restaurant at the Ukrainian Hall (5311 Francis Rd.) which will allow more fans to guess “whodunnit” while still enjoying Dagan’s menu.

“When Trevor knocked on my door one day and presented the idea, I did have to be sold on doing it,” Dagan said. “But at the same time I saw it as something different and exciting. And once we held one, I immediately saw that customers loved it.”

The Trevor he refers to is Trevor Jenkins, who has run Grim Reaper Murder Mysteries since 1994 and has produced a total of 168 shows during that time at eateries across the Lower Mainland.

“I am one of the very few who has been able to sustain this,” said Jenkins, adding one of the other popular venues he puts on a murder mystery night is the Crescent Beach Bistro in South Surrey.

“We always get a packed house there. And now that I am basically retired, it’s mostly restaurants,” he said. “Restaurants open and they close, so I usually enjoy a few good years in a row and then sustain myself when things get slower,” he said. “That’s the nature of the restaurant and show businesses.”

Seafood House
Shane Dagan, owner of the Steveston Seafood House

Locally, the competitive restaurant industry is a key source of employment which, according to Tourism Richmond, accounts for approximately 3,750 full-time equivalent jobs. And the sector generates roughly $142 million in direct earnings in the food/beverage sector as a result of tourism.

With that significant total, novel ways of attracting clients to local restaurants are applauded, said Colin Wong, Tourism Richmond’s director of communications.

“I’ve heard, that some places have set themselves up as Pokemon Go stops to attract players of that game,” Wong said in an email to the News. “Closer to home, over 20 Richmond restaurants have signed onto the Dumpling Trail (DumplingTrail.com), a Tourism Richmond product that is meant to get local and out-of-province visitors to come try the city’s food scene through a curated list of restaurants that feature great Asian style dumplings.”

For restaurant-goers looking to spice up their meals, the interactive nature of the English Murder Mystery — referring to its full and correct title —- is what draws people to the Steveston Seafood House.

“The actual plot of the English Murder Murder Mystery is not difficult, fairly straightforward and usually quite easy to solve,” Jenkins said. “It’s not a brain-teaser.”

It also encourages the audience to take part and question the actors who perform in vignettes in between the five-course meal.

In the Ukrainian Hall, the actors will be fitted with lapel mics that allow them freedom to move around the room, something that was restricted at the restaurant.

The show is presented in theatre-in-the-round with all of the tables assembled in a ring and focused on the action at its centre. The story, penned by Jenkins, is set during the gangster-riddled era of the roaring 20s in the “Salmonopolis” of Steveston where “Big Mamma” is celebrating opening night of her nightclub where “Big Al,” a kingpin in the local rum-running business has me at an untimely end.

Who pulled the trigger?

Is it Vinnie Villecchi, who’d plug his own mother for loose change? Or is it Velda Pyre, a night club singer who claims to be a farm girl from Surrey, who only longs to be in the glow of the spotlight?

Can it be Bonnie Parker, a tough, streetwise girl?

Or is it Detective McGillicuddy, a true blue, upstanding cop who carries a secret past?

“We’re gonna have fun with this,” said Jenkins.

And that’s the central goal of the night, added Dagan.

“I can think of easier ways to increase business, but this is a fun night that a certain segment of my customers look forward to and enjoy,” he said. “It’s a challenge to put on something this big outside the restaurant, but we are used to catering large events. And this will bring in as many as 130 or so people when we were limited at about 80 at the restaurant.”

Ticket sales, so far, have been brisk with about half already bought. And, interestingly, the demographics of those buying has slightly changed from years past.

“It’s already proving to be a much younger crowd,” Dagan said. “It ranges.  I’ve got teenagers to people in their 70s coming.

While there is a limited carry over in terms of increased business following the murder mystery nights, Dagan said it’s usually short-lived. Where it does have impact on business is the interest in when the next one is being held.

“There is a bit of a risk of overdoing it,” Dagan said. “And I find that with many things. If you limit what you do, there’s a more positive reaction to it. But at a minimum, we’re going to continue doing this once a year. But if this next event in January goes swimmingly, we’re contemplating a summer show, as well.”

Tickets to the Murder Mystery Show and Dinner are $85 each and include dinner, show, tax and tip. They are available by calling the Steveston Seafood House at 604-271-5252 or visiting online at StevestonSeafoodHouse.com.