One of White Rock鈥檚 most well-known restaurateurs 鈥� whose first name has been emblazoned on the front of his Marine Drive establishment for most of the last four decades 鈥� has died.
Uli Blume, founder of Uli鈥檚 Restaurant, passed away this week after battling illness 鈥渇or a few years鈥� according to a tribute posted on the restaurant鈥檚 Facebook page by his son, Tyson, who now runs the popular waterfront establishment.
Calling him 鈥渕y mentor and the visionary and original proprietor of Uli鈥檚 Restaurant,鈥� the younger Blume noted that his father lived nearly 40 years in White Rock, 鈥渕ade a lot of friends鈥� in the city, and 鈥渓oved and celebrated life and an exorbitant passion.鈥�
鈥淗e would have wanted us to lift a glass in his memory.鈥�
Blume, whose roots were German, brought a European flavour to the waterfront when he opened Uli鈥檚 at 15065 Marine Drive in 1985; he had previously honed his culinary skills at hotels in England, Holland, France, the Bahamas and South America.
He eventually sold the restaurant, but in 2007 at age 64 鈥� after five years away from the waterfront strip 鈥� he brought the Uli鈥檚 name back to the beach after purchasing a different restaurant and restoring his former business at its current address, 15023 Marine Dr.
鈥淚 was bored, I needed something constructive,鈥� he told Peace Arch News at the time, noting he鈥檇 spent his brief retirement cycling and exploring Europe.
鈥淚 like people, I like the hustle and bustle.鈥�
As news of Blume鈥檚 passing spread, many friends and former restaurant patrons took to social media to express their condolences and share memories of the longtime business owner; more than 600 comments were made on 鈥檚 Facebook page in less than 24 hours.
鈥淗is charm and flair for food and life was undeniable,鈥� wrote Sheree Morgan.
鈥淗e was a White Rock legend and will be missed. I have so many fond memories of Uli and his legendary restaurant,鈥� wrote Pamela Bendall.
鈥淯li you gave us a place to gather, eat and laugh. You provided jobs to so many starting out in life. An undeniable thread weaving the fabric of White Rock community together,鈥� wrote Maria Malczewska.
On Thursday, the White Rock Business Improvement Association released a statement on its Facebook page, noting that 鈥渢his loss will be felt throughout White Rock.鈥�
鈥淯li was an original restaurateur鈥� he was a pillar to our community and will be deeply missed.鈥�
editorial@peacearchnews.com
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