By the Daily Post staff
Property owner Dan Beltramo has put the kibosh on a proposal for the Dutch Goose to take over the Oasis Beer Garden, which closed earlier this month, City Councilman Ray Mueller said today (March 24).
Mueller has been talking to Beltramo and the Tougas family, who operated the restaurant for 60 years, in an attempt to revive the Oasis. The beloved beer, burger and pizza joint at 241 El Camino Real closed March 7 following a dispute over a new lease proposed by Beltramo.
Mueller confirmed a rumor going around town this week that the owner of the Dutch Goose, a similar sports bar at Alameda de las Pulgas and Avy Avenue, was interested in taking over the Oasis.
Mueller said Dutch Goose owner Greg Stern was talking to the Tougas family about purchasing the business.
“For a short time it appeared a deal was coming together,” Mueller wrote in an email this afternoon. “Ultimately, Mr. Beltramo expressed the desire that he wanted to take his time in deciding what to do next with the property.”
Beltramo said there is no immediate need to look at increasing parking in the area to accommodate a larger lunch hour dining crowd, according to Mueller.
Mueller said that the Tougas family has decided to donate items from the Oasis restaurant to the Menlo Park Historical Society. The restaurant was packed with Stanford football memorabilia. The wooden booths and tables contained carvings made by customers over the years.
The building at 241 El Camino was from Camp Fremont and was originally located on Santa Cruz Avenue in World War I, according to the historical society. Mueller said he is requesting a report from the city about whether the building has historic status, a possible first step in preserving it from redevelopment.
The following is Mueller’s email today to City Manager Alex McIntyre and City Attorney Bill McClure regarding to Oasis:
Dear Mr. McIntyre and Mr. McClure:
Unfortunately I learned today from Dan Beltramo, the property owner, that there is no longer an intention to bring back the Oasis in the near future.
In the past few weeks I introduced the Tougas family to an attorney to assist them with the sale of the Oasis brand, and also offered assistance to Greg Stern, the owner of the Dutch Goose who was in conversation with the Tougas family regarding purchasing the business. For a short time it appeared a deal was coming together.
Ultimately, Mr. Beltramo expressed the desire that he wanted to take his time in deciding what to do next with the property. Mr. Beltramo has further indicated there is no immediate need to look at increasing parking capacity to accommodate a larger lunch hour dining crowd.
The Tougas family has kindly decided to donate some items from the Oasis restaurant to the Menlo Park Historical Society.
I have been informed, but not verified, the building is an original building from Camp Fremont. I have also heard that there may be a redevelopment project coming forward for a property located nearby. I am requesting a report out to the City Council as to whether the building has any historical status.
With best regards,
Ray
Too bad. This would have been a great outcome. So sad the O is gone.
The Beltramos claim publicly they want a similar style restaurant in the building. Yet somehow they can’t come to terms with their faithful tenant of 60 years, and now turn down the Goose owner, who is also operating in a Beltramo-owned building. Now they want to “take their time” deciding what to do.
Dear Beltramos: Just stop with the spin and just fess up that you want to cash in on your location and build your office building or Chipotle or townhomes. Stop kidding yourself that we would believe anything different.
Absolutely! The Beltramos are not fooling anyone! Their greed is killing the very sense of community their Grandparents worked so hard to build.
They are “Stanford” now . . they are ivy-league . . . they are not the community anymore! . . . lol