Interest is growing in the purchase of L’Houstalet Restaurant, one of Port Vila’s most historic restaurants and the site linked to the signing celebrations of Vanuatu’s Constitution in 1979.

Owner Clement Martinez, now 84 years old, confirmed to VBTC News that while the restaurant has not officially been placed on the market, he has received several offers from interested buyers.

“I did not put the restaurant up for sale, but I did receive some offers — several offers actually — but nothing has been done yet. That’s the situation at the moment. The rest were rumours,” Mr Martinez said.

L’Houstalet holds a special place in Vanuatu’s political history. On 19 September 1979 at 4am, political party leaders, church representatives, custom chiefs and members of the Constitutional Committee gathered at the restaurant to celebrate the draft Constitution of Vanuatu before it was submitted to Britain and France for validation.

Mr Martinez opened the restaurant in 1973, and it has since become a well-known dining establishment in Port Vila, popular with both locals and expatriates.

“I remember in 1979 the Constitution Committee held debates for the Constitution, and by September they had to bring back the copy to Britain and France to validate it,” he recalled.

The restaurant currently employs around 30 staff.

It remains unclear who the potential buyers are, but VBTC News understands that some expatriate business interests in town have shown interest.

VBTC News has also received information that the valuation of the L’Houstalet property alone is estimated at around VT125 million.

As Mr Martinez considers retirement, the future of the historic restaurant — closely tied to Vanuatu’s independence journey — remains a topic of public interest.