Beer emporium on the way
It won’t be until early next year, but the beer will flow behind the emblematic Paramount Theatre sign in downtown Kelowna.
Craft Beer Market took over the historic brick former Paramount movie theatre building last year and is doing a massive renovation to turn the property on downtown’s main street into a showpiece restaurant with 482 seats.
One of the City of Kelowna’s conditions for the change in use was the vertical blue Paramount sign stay intact on the facade as homage to the building’s use as a movie house from 1949 to 2016.
“Since I was born (in Calgary), I have spent every summer in the Okanagan, and love everything about it,” said Craft founder and president PJ L’Heureux.
“We recognize the important role the Paramount Theatre played in this community and we want to continue to honour its legacy. It’s the perfect building for us. All our locations are big and iconic.”
Not only will the Paramount sign stay put, it will be refurbished, as will the marquee that posted what movies were playing.
The Kelowna location will feature 230 seats in the main floor restaurant, 48 in a mezzanine and 204 on the third-floor rooftop that has views of Okanagan Lake.
The patio will be outfitted with heaters to make it a three-season seating option.
With a kitchen open to the restaurant and high ceilings, Craft is going for a casual, vintage feel with the Kelowna property.
Craft opened its first brew pub in downtown Calgary in 2011, followed by Edmonton and Vancouver in 2013 and Ottawa last year.
It will open a second Calgary location next month and Toronto will come on tap by the end of October.
The Vancouver location is in the former Salt Building at False Creek and was named best new restaurant in Vancouver in 2014.
L’Heureux had his management team in Kelowna this week to have a look at the future Craft location and check out this city’s waterfront, wine industry and burgeoning microbrew beer scene.
Renovations have been underway for months, but this week, to coincide with L’Heureux and crew’s visit, a big, new sign reading “2018” covers the front of the building.
“Of course, our business revolves around the beer,” said L’Heureux.
“We’ll have over 100 beers on tap from around the world, B.C. and from right here in the Okanagan. We know about (Kelowna microbrewers) Tree, BNA, Kettle River and the brand new Red Bird.”
To have 100 beers on tap takes planning and dedication.
Craft features a giant central island bar with a vast array of taps and steel draft towers cascading from the ceiling to connect the bar to the keg room with a state-of-the-art draft system.
In fact, the draft towers design element has become part of its signature look.
The keg room is a custom-built, glass-enclosed affair holding up to 300 kegs.
Thus said, Craft also has an extensive wine list and cocktail menu, and is proud of its food and the fact it’s a family-friendly restaurant.
The food menu includes everything from burgers, pastas, sandwiches, taco and salads to seafood, including sushi, brunch and gluten-free, lactose-free and vegetarian options.