Against the fading blue paint of the Snug Cove building, there’s a countdown. And now it’s down to single digits.
In just a few days, the old Bowen Island Pub will close its doors for the final time.
The carpets smell of beer, the bathrooms smell faintly of regur- gitated beer, and the chairs have gashes in their vinyl veneer, expos- ing near-ancient foam. Peeling beer stickers adorn the fridges below the well-stocked shelves of liquor. The wooden bar itself dates to Expo ‘86, the year before the pub opened, and the rest of the room is like an exhibition of classic pub décor: neon signs, an obstacle-ridden pool table, and generic (to the uneducated observer) historical photographs.
“A lot of this stuff was just kind of piecemealed together over the years. I don’t think there was ever a time when it was redecorated or rede- signed,” said owner Glenn Cormier.
“There’s a lot of nostalgia history in this place,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed this.”
But, with an ageing building and a set-up that’s not conducive to large numbers of people, Cormier’s ready to move on.
“The last couple of years have been difficult,” said Cormier. “We struggle with this place.
“It’s just not a pleasant place to come and have a meal.”
The new pub, in front of the old one, is scheduled to open June 1.
“I think people are looking forward to the saying goodbye part of it, but I think there’ll be many a reminiscing over this place in the new pub.”
Cormier is a bit nervous about committing to an opening day because “There’s any number of things that could delay it, but I think we can do it.”
Though some regulars on a quiet Tuesday afternoon seem saddened to be leaving the old building, Vicki Noble is glad to be going to a fresh, clean bar. She said it will be more family-friendly and a better layout.
“It’s a win-win. We get a new pub and they make more money,” she said.
But Cormier had some trepidations moving out of one of Bowen’s more colourful buildings.
“I’ve seen it happen many times with businesses, especially places that have a long tradition or heritage to them,” he said. “When they make a move into a newer facility they lose a lot of that character and business. It was a real concern for me.”
But, he forged ahead, and has come to realize that your local pub is more than four walls and a roof.
“The character of this place is the characters that come in,” he said, “regardless of what kind of silly things you have decorating your walls.
“I think once you take the people out of here move them into there, it will become what they want it to be and it’ll grow.”
While liquor prices will go up marginally, Cormier will be introducing a Monday to Friday happy hour.
But before the big move, there’s one last party. Anyone in Snug Cove on Sunday night will be sure to see the streams of (possibly inebriated) people for the pub’s closing night party.
“I just hope everybody is safe,” said Cormier.
