Beloved downtown Victoria brunch spot is celebrating 40th anniversary with $7 bennies

Brunch lovers, you won’t want to miss this!

In celebration of 40 years in business, beloved brunch hotspot John’s Place is offering a variety of special deals.

Inspired by an original copy of their menu from 1984, and to honour their supporters over the years, they’ve decided to apply some of the old prices to current menu items!

So, from Monday, October 21st to Friday, October 25th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., loyal customers and new visitors alike will be able to get things like $7 bennies, $5 Belgian waffles, $1 coffee and more.

Yes, you read that right!

“It’s going to be a blast,” owner John Cantin said in an Instagram post. 

“We’ve gotten a hold of the staff from 40 years ago, and the opening waitresses from the first day are coming in from Kelowna and Vancouver.”

If you’re unfamiliar with Cantin’s story, he first arrived in Victoria in a 67 Volkswagen van, rag top down, singing Stevie Wonder hits with his best LA pals. 

Due to leave for Tahiti soon, staying on the island wasn’t originally on the table. But when his motorcycle broke down and he had to begin walking to work, a new and surprising path took hold. 

There was an old, boarded-up London Fish “n” Chips restaurant that he began to linger by, peering in through the windows and imagining the place full of life and serving up good diner food.

He asked a realtor friend to look into the building and began working out the logistics, offering up a deal shortly after. 

Cantin opened the doors in October 1984, and because he was no stranger to the culinary world (already having 30 years of experience under his belt), and was dedicated to the vision, John’s Place is still going strong 40 years later!

Gather a group of loved ones and come down to John’s Place to check out the rest of the retro deals and say hello to all the staff!

They’re allowing one meal per person and aren’t offering a take-out option or reservations.