Rob and Yolanda Davies opened the Crown ‘N Anchor Public House and Grill without a lot of fanfare but that doesn’t reflect how they felt.
“My dad’s dream was to open a bar,” says Chantal Tessier, who is managing the front end. “My mom is in health care and he was in the oil and gas industry and does consulting, but he wanted to open a bar. This opportunity just fell into their laps.”
The Crown ‘N Anchor is at 995 Lakeshore Dr. SW, in the former Hideaway Pub location. The inside is entirely revamped and redone.
“We completely gutted it. The bar was moved back, the kitchen redone with new equipment. We have seven flat-screens and we expanded the patio. My dad repainted the whole place, everything is new.”
Chantal says they have a very definite vision of the business and what they hope locals and tourists will feel when they walk in.
“We wanted it to be a place where anybody can come; the guys after work, people coming for an anniversary dinner, or a birthday party. We want it to appeal to everybody and for it to be a place where everybody relaxes – just a casual place with good food and drinks.”
They have an impressive menu with “everything from deep fried pickles to a New York steak dinner and everything in between.”
They have build-your-own burgers and pasta, and fish and chips. Chantal says everything on the menu is tasty (they have a red-seal chef) but perhaps the two most tantalizing items are the Crown burger (fully loaded) and their ribs (made with Crown whiskey and barbecue sauce).
“The crown burger is so big we serve it with a steak knife, you can’t fit your mouth around it, and the ribs are to die for,” says Chantal.
They have 10 drinks on tap, including a white wine. They serve many local brands and craft beer and they specialize in all the classic cocktails that are making a comeback.
“Manhattans, Negronis, Moscow Mule – they’re all huge right now. We serve the Moscow Mule in a copper mug, very Instagram worthy and they’re delicious.”
They are open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. The kitchen is open until 11:30 with a smaller menu after 9 p.m.
To contact them, call 250-832-7690 or visit their Facebook page, Crown ‘N Anchor Public House & Grill.
Related: It’s all about apples at the Salmon Arm Applefest
Downtown gears up for Christmas season
On Friday Nov. 30, the downtown celebrated its second annual Downtown Light Up from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Shuswap Park Mall.
On Saturday, Dec. 1, there are family matinees at the Salmar Classic, Polar Express is at 10:30 a.m., and Elf at 1p.m.
There is no cost but donationss of a new toy, non-perishable food item or cash are gladly accepted.
Ongoing throughout the month is the ‘shop and win’ draw. Simply enter your name on a ballot for a chance to win one of three prizes. Keep an eye out for the SASCU Elf spreading holiday cheer.
The CPR Holiday Train rolls in on Dec. 15, and the popular dinner and movie promotion happens on Dec. 5, 12, and 19.
Ardene is moving
Ardene, the women and teen’s fashion store in Centenoka Park Mall, is moving to the Mall at Piccadilly in January.
Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur season 5
Registration is open for the 2019 Launch-a-Preneur competition. The program begins with an orientation on Jan. 10 and the first series of workshops go from Jan. 17 to March 7. The purpose of the program is to help individuals and teams to successfully plan and launch their business in the Shuswap, while competing for prize packages in true ‘Dragon’s Den’ style.
For more information, or to register visit www.launch-a-preneur.ca Registration closes Jan. 4, 2019.
Spring opening planned for Gym of Rock
Sean and Rebecca Scott are opening a rock climbing gym in Westgate Public Market in the spring of 2019.
“It’s going to be a family oriented gym,” says Rebecca. “It will have all difficulties; something for the average climber, very new climbers, friendly bouldering, and rope climbing. It’s really about everybody, families, couples, and there will be auto-belaying if you come on your own.”
The gym is being designed and built by engineers from HPCW (High Performance Climbing Walls) in Cowichan.
They will have a 2,500 square foot floor space and the walls will go up to 24 feet.
“We have climbed recreationally but our kids climbed a lot,” says Rebecca. They have three sons aged nine, five-and-a-half, and three-and-a-half. The boys came up with the name: Gym of Rock. (They are already promoting the family business wearing Gym of Rock sweatshirts).
“We were looking for a change of lifestyle and what Salmon Arm needs and this is where we ended up,” says Sean.
Sean is a longtime volunteer firefighter, in Tappen and Hall #3 he has 13 years of service.
He and Rebecca are also volunteers in the local minor baseball with the tadpole division.
They will offer lessons and camps, and group and birthday party bookings.
“It is an extreme sport but with mats and harnesses anyone can do this extreme sport. It’s good for kids for their large motor skills and fine motor skills,” says Rebecca.
“Climbing is a whole- body experience, you push yourself as hard as you want,” says Sean.
Within the next few months the couple will be selling memberships. Follow them on Facebook (Gym of Rock), or visit their website, www.gymofrock.com.
Send your business news items to Leah at leahblain.shuswapmarketnews@gmail.com
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