Construction is moving along at the new Dairy Queen in the Summerfair Plaza.
This is a familiar venture for owner Eric Malmsten, who is also the owner of the Dairy Queen in West Kelowna’s Okanagan Lake Shopping Centre near the Landmark Cinema.
They haven’t announced a formal opening date but they are on track to open before May 20.
Coco’s Collection, a new retail shop specializing in bridal and formal wear, is set to open on Main Street in early May.
Owner Karena Fredrickson recently moved to Summerland from Edmonton and says she’s been overwhelmed by the warm welcome she has received.
With 12 years of retail experience under her belt, Karena is looking forward to starting her new venture.
The chamber also welcomes their new members: Alas Construction, Grant and Sons Mobile Milling, Green Solutions (gardening) HSH Ventures (marketing), Verity Electrical Contracting, and the Summerland Quest Society.
Under new management
Andrew and Petra Verge of Spud Brothers Food Services are selling the mobile side of their business and are taking over management of the Summerland Yacht Club Boathouse Bar and Grill.
Andrew says their signature poutine will most certainly be on the menu.
The Boathouse is open to the public and they will be serving lunch and dinner starting May 1.
Peter and Aline Borsboom are familiar to locals as the owners of the Beanery Café, but they also run a bed and breakfast in Summerland.
They have sold Vista Ranch Bed and Breakfast and have taken over At Morrow Suite on Morrow Avenue.
The new owners of Vista Ranch Bed and Breakfast are Katrina and Greg Magolan, who recently moved from the Lower Mainland and are looking forward to operating their first business and raising their family in Summerland.
They are currently undertaking renovations and will be open for business this summer.
Expansions
A big kitchen is good but a bigger kitchen is better.
Zias Stonehouse Restaurant is expanding their kitchen by 186 square metres.
The groundwork will start this summer and the project will stretch over several months in order to limit disruption to the restaurant’s hours.
Summerland Sweets and Sleeping Giant Winery are renovating in preparation for the 2014 tourism season.
They have added a controlled temperature storage area for their wine, and expanded their tasting room.
Renovations and refinishing at the ice cream bar will also mean more room and more ice cream flavours.
With a new trail in West Kelowna and an online shop nearly ready to launch, Bead Trails has now doubled their retail shop space in the Summerland Visitor Centre building.
The Bead Trails now covers over 127 businesses in the Okanagan, including 50 wineries.
Bottleneck Drive
Bottleneck Drive Winery Association is meeting with their Vancouver market on home turf, partnering with Van Dusen Gardens to present a special Wine in the Garden event on May 29.
Representatives from Summerland’s 14 wineries will collectively present more than 75 wines and showcase Summerland’s winery experiences.
A member of the chamber staff will attend the event to promote Summerland as a tourism destination.
Ticket information can be found on Bottleneck Drive’s website.
Accolades
Congratulations to Tyler Harlton Wines, named by Culinaire Magazine as one of “5 Cool Okanagan Wineries for 2014.” They praised TH Wines’ “old school” wine press and hands-on approach to wine making.
Collaboration
Leah Roney of Eneas Creek Handcrafted is collaborating with Dirty Laundry Vineyard to create a unique range of handmade soaps using Dirty Laundry wine.
The new wine soap will be available for sale in Dirty Laundry’s shop.
Anniversary
24 Karat Salon on Lakeshore Drive is celebrating 10 years in business.
Owner Theresa McPhillamey says she is now looking to bring another stylist on board.
Sophia Jackson is the membership services and events coordinator with the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.
