Lots of changes at The Train Station Pub on Clement and Ellis downtown, starting with well-known restaurateur Steve Stinson, who also owns The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, and Tanner Dillon general manager of The Keg, as the new partner/owners.
They have introduced a brand new menu with an entire Okanagan wine list and craft beer. Some minor renovations have been completed, including new wine racks behind the bar, another large TV, new lighting fixtures and some new kitchen equipment. Four large, beautiful street lamps from Vancouver have been added to the ceiling lighting. Additions to come are more high stools and tables by the bar, new bench seating, additional parking and better signage. The menu offers a great variety of snack and share items, sides, pub fare (fish and chips, barbecued pork ribs, mac and cheese, wonderful grilled flatbreads (the fennel sausage, fresh granny smith apples and blue cheese was fantastic), sandwiches, burgers, salads (quinoa with chicken was delicious) and desserts. They offer a lovely 80-seat patio facing Clement.
After owning and operating the MarketPlace IGA in Glenmore for 16 years, well-known grocer Daryl Hazell has sold the business. When I asked him what’s next for him, he said: “I’m going to play and coach soccer and still volunteer as an RCMP Auxiliary.” When I asked if his wife was happy to have him around the house now, he said, “For sure.” The store has been purchased by Kevin Kothlow, who is no stranger to MarketPlace IGAs, as he owns and operates both the Lake Country and Enderby stores.
After seven years with the Business Development Bank, Luanne Chore, senior partner-consulting, has moved on and joined the firm of Grant Thornton LLP, at 200-1633 Ellis St., as senior manager-business development. Previous to her employment with the BDC, Chore was with HSBC for 26 years. Contact her at chore@ca.gt.com.
The Color Room Hair Salon, at 1320 Water St., has rebranded and taken a new path in business. Owned and operated by long-time business women Penny Bugera, the salon has changed its name to Society—The Salon and moved to newly renovated premises at 1306 Water St., beside The Delta Grand Hotel (part of the premises of the former Malibu Boats). Society is now an Aveda Salon with Aveda trained staff who all came from the recently sold salon, Oxygen. The shop will also offer artificial nails and pedicures when it opens Friday. Call 250-861-6606.
Born and raised in Kelowna, Roland Schonfeld, formerly of R&D Manufacturing, has opened Willex Metalworks Ltd., at 1036 Richter St. Willex Metalworks is a machine and fabrication shop that deals in all things that are metal. They fix or make anything from a small broken chair to a large excavator, and can manufacture larger scale products such as large conveyors, fences and even suspension bridges.
Jane Fletcher is opening Game Changers Sports Consignment at 110-1854 Kirschner Rd. Starting today, you can drop off consignment sports gear, games, sports books and any outdoor gear that is in good sellable condition from Tuesday to Saturday for sales starting on Friday, June 1. The grand opening will be sometime in June, so stay tuned for that date.
Devon Brooks, formerly of the Okanagan Business Examiner, has launched his own publication called Okanagan Recreation. It is a digital, free publication, aimed at hiking, biking and paddling sports from Salmon Arm to Osoyoos. It will be published six times per year and the first issue just came out. In addition to outdoor recreation, he is devoting a considerable portion of the content to conservation and environmental issues. If you are interested in looking at a copy, you can send him a note with your name and e-mail address to subscriptions@okanaganrecreation.ca. I just looked at a copy online and it is a great publication for recreation buffs. Call 250-860-1270; publisher@okanaganrecreation.ca.
Lots of news from The Bay. Connie Vetter-Johnson, the assistant store manager, has moved on to become store manager at Home Outfitters. The Cosmetics and Fragrance Gala is May 6 in support of Look Good Feel Better with tickets available at the store. The Bay celebrated its 342nd birthday on May 2. Rein Nurmsoo is the store manager of The Bay.
Jo-Anne Schurman is the owner/operator of the home-based business Design Reflection, a blinds and drapery company. Schurman sells blinds such as two-inch faux woods, verticals, cell and pleated shades, roller blinds and one inch venetians. She also repairs or restrings blinds and also replaces the vanes on a vertical. If an existing blind works great but needs repairs, she can most likely fix them. Schurman also sews and sells drapery sells drapery rods. Most of the fabrics she uses have UV protectants, including blackouts for bedrooms. She also can clean most sheer drapery, with pricing including taking them down and re-installing. Schurman, who has 25 years experience in the industry, can provide her product for any budget, in the right style and the perfect colour. Call 250-575-2880.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board and 13 partnering agencies were presented with the Award for Excellence in the Water and Waste Community by the B.C. Water and Waste Association. The award was in recognition of the partnership’s work on the three-year extensive Okanagan water and supply demand study. Anna Warwick Sears is the executive director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board. For a list of Okanagan Water Supply and Demand Project Partners visit www.obwb.ca.
Okanagan Spirits Distillery, at 267 Bernard Ave. (beside Paramount Theatre), will extend its operating hours to seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting the May long weekend. If you are looking for cocktail and bar ware, this spirits distillery has a great selection to choose from. If you need something to pair with those cocktails, give their Fentimans a chance. Their shipment has just come in with a selection of non-alcoholic mixers, including Ginger Beer, Orange Jigger, Victorian Lemonade and the popular Tonic Water.
During their 24 years owning The Evans Gallery, Wayne and Julie Evans hosted many special shows featuring big name international artists. One of the overall crowd favourites was Terry Isaac with his first Canadian show. A few years ago, Isaac moved from Oregon to Penticton. This Saturday, he and his wife, local Peachland gal Kathleen, are celebrating the grand opening of their own gallery at 495 Upper Bench Rd., just minutes from Penticton headed towards Naramata, from 1 to 5 p.m. If you are ever out that way, definitely visit The Terry Isaac Gallery. Call 250-492-6590; terryisaac@telus.net.
Twenty-five dollars for 25 years. Dan and Wanda Truong, owners of Mekong Restaurant Chinese Szechuan Cuisine, want to give back to the community as a way to celebrate their 25th anniversary in business. Located at 1030 Harvey Ave., this popular restaurant will donate all proceeds from fundraising dinner on May 5 and 6 at Mekong to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. For $25 you will enjoy an amazing buffet dinner (6 p.m. both days) coffee, dessert and tax. You can also enter to win a trip for two to Victoria, courtesy of Windward Travel with two nights’ accommodation and airfare. For reservations, call 250-763-8000.
I was absolutely thrilled to be a medal-bearer in the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen Relay last Saturday. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Rick Hansen being a hero and inspiration to all citizens, both with and without accessibility needs.
There are a few tickets left for Gourmet and Grapes Iron Chef at Cabana Bar and Grille on Sunday, May 6. Ned Bell, partner of Cabana and executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, will take on Dale MacKay, chef/owner of Ensemble & Ensemble Tap. MacKay was the first winner of Top Chef Canada on Food Network Canada, so it will be an exciting evening. There will be seven food stations and seven wine stations. Tickets at Cabana or call 250-763-1955.
The popular Blossom Time Fair hosted by the five hospital auxiliaries takes place Friday, May 11, at the Cottonwoods care home in Kelowna on Ethel Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along with a BBQ, The Old Time Fiddlers, 50/50 draw and Caring Clowns, you can check out crafts, baking, time pieces and much more.
The Mark’s Work Warehouse Ladies Night is Thursday, May 10, from 5 to 10 p.m. Mark’s Work Warehouse will have a 20 per cent off sale, and will feature a display set up by Sarah Simpson, from SIMS Jewellery Co. With every $65 or more in total purchases, $5 will be donated towards their goal of $50,000 to support the fight against breast cancer. It’s going to be a night of sparking jewelry and deals all-around. Danielle Dorwart is the store operator.
You only have one week to clear out those outdated documents after tax time. The Community Document Shredding event, sponsored by the Kelowna Crime Prevention Association, will be Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Crown Packaging parking lot (2092 Enterprise Way). It is only $5 to shred a maximum of three banker boxes, which will be performed onsite by Okanagan Paper Shredding. All funds are for local crime prevention programs for youth.
The Springvalley Elementary School parent advisory council will hold a spring garage sale and flea market Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 470 Ziprick Rd.
Birthdays of the week: Happy 65th Susan Steen, Central Okanagan Hospice and Capital News movie reviewer (May 3); happy 50 Lori Metcalfe (May 8); Doug Soman (May 1); Verna Burnell (May 3); Gary Wardrop, Wealthlink Financial (May 3); Lorina Dick (May 4); Chris Cowan, Kelowna Flightcraft (May 4); Brenda Bell (May 7); Don MacDonald (May 7); Susan Johal, Kimmitt, Wrzesniewski (May 8); Terry Rempel (May 8).
