The Hot Springs Village Board of Directors sent out the following email to Property Owners on July 8, 2021:
The residents of Hot Springs Village have always enjoyed a variety of dining options inside our gates. Our restaurants include establishments owned and operated by the POA itself, those operated independently in POA-leased facilities, and other independently owned and operated businesses – all dedicated to serving Village residents.
Our restaurants, like restaurants and other service-industry businesses across the nation, are faced with an acute labor shortage as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it caused. The restaurant owners and managers in the Village are working diligently to fill job openings, but it could be months, a year, or longer before operations are back to 2019 or “normal” standards.
During this period of adjustment and improvement, we’re asking for your patience and understanding. We ask you to do two things:-
First, it’s important that all of us continue to support and dine at our local restaurants. We recommend you call ahead to be sure a restaurant is open, as hours of operation change frequently, based on available labor. Phone numbers for 15 inside-the-Village restaurants are listed on the HSV restaurants page.
Second, please stay positive. Our restaurants are working to maintain regular hours and menu offerings, but there will be some days a restaurant isn’t ready and may need to curtail its operations. Again, we recommend you call ahead before you drive to your favorite restaurant.
We will get back to a new version of “normal” as soon as we can. Thank you for understanding.
Respectfully provided,
HSVPOA Board of Directors
July 8, 2021
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Deb Gomez
07/08/2021 — 5:52 pm
I find this email blast interesting given the traffic on Nextdoor about the Village restaurants. It would appear to me that the board has sent this in support of the Xplore restaurants but it makes one wonder how Mulligans, The Sand Trap, El Jimador and for the most part Rafaela Rose is able to provide good food and good service and maintain consistent hours.
Lloyd Sherman
07/09/2021 — 6:34 am
I had exactly the same reaction to this communication. We don’t seem to be able to send out details on other projects that are being worked on but we can defend a board decision to lease restaurant facilities and indicate that we should accept poor service as their justification. Sad to say the least. I personally am going to places where I know I can get good service and food for a reasonable price. And while it is not in the Village, our weekly dinner group went to Tanner’s last night and the food and service were exceptional. Our POA created a situation where this group left the Village boundaries and yet they have figured out how to survive and thrive. Our group had over 30 last night and not one complaint I am aware of. It can be done and to continue using a lack of staff as an excuse is getting old and if I had to guess is not actually the real problem.
Deb Gomez
07/09/2021 — 12:39 pm
Heard Tanner’s has been sold!
Joy Stefan
07/08/2021 — 10:33 pm
Why did they omit Dolce Vita? It is one of the very best restaurants in HSV, and also has a great wait staff.
Sue Viecelli
07/09/2021 — 7:30 pm
We, too, are extremely disappointed in the current situation impacting restaurants at our golf courses! Why would anyone enter a lease agreement if they did not have the ability to maintain operations? We are very fortunate to have many reliable restaurants nearby, admittedly some of these are outside our gates. Hopefully this situation will be short lived, but in the interim they are losing their customers to other businesses.
Coleen Curtis
07/09/2021 — 11:59 pm
Myself, along with three friends, ate at Dolce Vita tonight. It was packed, but there were plenty of waiters and waitresses. Our waiter told us that a cook didn’t show up so Bruno, the owner, was doing all of the cooking himself. The food and service were superb and very timely. We didn’t have to wait for a thing.
Robert Busse
07/12/2021 — 11:47 am
I just wonder about the ethical aspects of the POA promoting only certain specific PRIVATE restaurants over other private establishments. It appears that the POA has chosen favorites and are supporting one particular business person over other business owners. The POA just can not stay out of the restaurant business, even when it is not in it!!