Popular restaurateurs sell up

They both worked tirelessly into the early hours while their clients partied and enjoyed culinary delights, but last week they sold their popular riverside restaurant for another life in Hong Kong.
For three and a-half years Geoff Mackintosh and Jodi Clark, both with fine arts backgrounds, stamped their mark on the dining and entertainment scene in Wanganui from their restaurant, Vega.
Vega, with its eclectic mix of furnishings and decor and Wanganui art ever changing on display, opened its back bar earlier this year for its vinyl record entertainment and outdoor dining.
All the furniture in Vega was designed by Mr Mackintosh with help from friends.
Ms Clark, a BFA Elam graduate, brought the feminine style of excellent service to the restaurant.
Mr Mackintosh a designer, is taking up a position as creative project manager designing and managing the fit-out of restaurants in Hong Kong.
Mr Mackintosh first worked with Karen, an American woman who employed him in 1999 to fit out her Whitianga restaurant.
In 2000 Mr Mackintosh returned to Hong Kong to work for her again and every year since he and Ms Clark accompanied her to America to scope projects.
Mr Mackintosh said Vega had given several Wanganui chefs their start and had gone on to open restaurants in the city, in other New Zealand cities and overseas.
"We have also employed numerous talented Wanganui Catering School students."
Mr Mackintosh and Ms Clark had been actively involved in fundraising and sponsorship of many city groups, among them the Wanganui Quay School of Fine Arts and Design, Sarjeant Gallery extension, Kaierau Rugby Club, Aramoho Rowing Association, Masterfoods Bowling Team and Bad Horse Video awards.
Mr Mackintosh said he had difficulty progressing his plans to develop the Vega building and this contributed to selling up and moving out.
"The Philip Shackletons and Richard Munnekes of the world need to be supported, because they are the people who help drive the city's progress."
But he was disappointed with some of the Wanganui District Council regulations because they did not allow for people with creative vision, he said.
Vega restaurant last week won the 2005 Beef and Lamb award for Excellence and testimony to their place in the national restaurant guide, Vega had featured in Cuisine Magazine, House and Garden, and North and South.
Vega had been sold to Wanganui woman Val Gardener, who would retain the staff and continue with the plans to develop the whole building, Mr Mackintosh said.
"We wish Val well. We are sad to be leaving, but we'll be back," Mr Mackintosh and Ms Clark said.
"We appreciate the patronage from the fantastic people in Wanganui, aged from eight to 80 and thank everyone for supporting us over the years," Mr Mackintosh said.
"When we started, we were told we would go broke in six months ? and, of course, the Wanganui people saw that we didn't."