Loyal patrons and workers alike bade farewell to one of the island’s best-known dining spots as outlets at Grandvrio Resort Saipan held their last weekend service ahead of a temporary closure in April 2026.
“I really don't know but we've been coming to this restaurant practically since it opened. We used to go to the buffet at the Tropicana,” said Janice Sablan, a longtime customer. “But in recent years, it's been Dolphins [Restaurant]. We really enjoy the food. We like the staff.”
“Everybody's friendly. Everybody's so nice. And, you know, even if we don't have the buffet, we like the Japanese cuisine that they have in regular lunch,” she added. “So, yeah, it's pretty sad that they're closing. The island is losing so many businesses and it's a sad thing. They say we'll recover, but it's going to take a long time.”
“Well, yeah, it's got a great view. There's a couple of other restaurants that have a view, but this one is from up high,” Sablan said. “But this one's really spectacular because it's up high.”
And her message to staff at Dolphin Restaurant, “Oh, yeah, I wish you wouldn't close. But, you know, like I said, we really like the staff. They've been really, they're friendly. They're courteous. They, you know, are very helpful. So we've enjoyed being here and I really feel bad that it's closing.”
Pete Igitol, a loyal customer and former director when the property was still the Hafadai Beach Hotel, said, “It's been a long time, but this restaurant here takes care of a lot of people, baseball players and other people coming in from Japan, from other countries.”
He added, “This is the place that they like. They spend their time here, which is good to them, according to them,” he said.
On the entire hotel’s temporary closure, he said, “I feel bad about it, but it is the best thing they can do here to start maybe making more improvement.”
Randy Ramos, a warehouse and delivery worker, said the closure would ripple beyond the hotel.
“That will be a big effect in our company because we have Grandvrio, which is one of our biggest customers,” he said. “And sadly, there's another employees that going to lose their job.”
He added it’s part of a troubling trend on island.
“That also will affect that there's a lot of restaurants that are now closing. So your choices will be more, a little bit smaller,” Ramos added.
On what made Dolphine Restaurant special, Ramos said it’s all about the view.
“...and good food also. And the staff, they're really good, very accommodating and very professional,” he said. “I wish that they will come back and more tourists and visitors will come. So they will consider to reopen.”
For staff, the mood was equally somber.
“The staff, they are so sad because like mostly, especially the long term, working here for a long time, so they feel sad because after how many years they're working here and then they will end,” said Aldrin Bench Legaspi, kitchen supervisor. “Because there's a lack of tourists.”
When asked when will Grandvrio reopen, Legaspi said everything’s up in the air.
“They don't say anything about how long it would be closed. But they said just for the meantime, because they're going to do like renovation actually for the whole hotel,” he said.
Fortunately, F&B staff at Grandviro already have fallback jobs.
“I'm glad because they have, after the closing, they have their job already. So I'm not worried about them,” Legaspi added.
As for the customers, he said, “My message to our loyal customer, I'm very thankful, especially to our loyal customer,” he said. “So I'm really grateful and honored to thank everybody who always support Grandview, especially our Dolphin Restaurant and the Tropicana.”
Waitstaff John Galvez echoed the uncertainty. “It's pretty sad because we do have a lot of regulars here and they are going to miss this place. So are we,” he said. “We're not really sure when we're going to open again, but hopefully it'll be soon and we get to see the customers back,” Galvez added. “I've been here for about three, more than three years.”
As for the next part of his journey, he said he’s leaning towards a career in the U.S. armed forces.
“Honestly, that's pretty much one of the only options here since our economy is going down kind of slowly,” he said. “If you really want a good opportunity out there, I'd say the military is like the best option for most people here.”
And of the U.S. military branches, he’s keen on joining the U.S. Air Force where his degree in computers would hopefully come in handy.
“Well, if I can't find a job here, I'm probably going to try and enlist in the Air Force,” Galvez said. “Whatever they offer me, I'll take it.”
Last December, Grandvrio Resort Saipan confirmed the temporary closure in a letter to the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“Due to a significant decline in the number of tourists following the reduction and suspension of direct flights to Saipan, we are currently facing extremely challenging business conditions,” the hotel said in a statement.
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