The Olympic Village could be the ultimate podium for beer lovers by next summer.
The Legacy Liquor Store, once the only retail tenant in the $1.1 billion Southeast False Creek development, was joined in July by the Tap & Barrel.
The Daniel Group’s two-level B.C. wine and beer restaurant, with an expansive patio, occupies the west end of the Creekside Community Recreation Centre.
The trio could be completed next June or July with the opening of the proposed Craft Beer Market Restaurant + Bar in the 14,000-square-foot Salt Building.
The Salt Building was originally to be occupied by a Mark James brewpub, but that concept fell through at the Village, which was put into receivership in November 2010.
The former salt refinery and warehouse, which was built in 1930, was renovated for $15 million and was the so-called “athletes’ living room” during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The City of Vancouver advertised intermittently for leaseholders, until Calgary-based Craft inked a deal. The company promoted a one-day community open house on October 27 and is applying for a development permit and food primary liquor licence.
“It’s a big open space and we want to keep the integrity of the building as well, the open concept in terms of the trusses in the roof,” said Craft marketing director Allison Robertson.
“We definitely are going to be looking at creating a couple of unique spaces, a private room where people will be able to have private functions or private parties.”
Plans for the 350-seat, premium casual restaurant call for an open-concept kitchen, private room and mezzanine for special events. The restaurant will offer more than 140 beers on tap from 250 kegs holding 19,000 litres of beer.
As for food, Craft promises “New North American classic cuisine” with locally sourced fresh produce and meats and signature items, like Bier-A-Misu.
Craft president P.J. L’Heureux attended May’s Vancouver Craft Beer Week, which climaxed at the Salt Building, and said the company plans to invest $3 million to $4 million on improvements and launch.
He said he was encouraged by several B.C.-based suppliers to expand to Vancouver. He claims Craft will co-exist with Tap & Barrel.
“The Salt Building was always slated to be some sort of brewpub establishment. It doesn’t really change much of what was going to go in there,” L’Heureux said.
“I would think the biggest change we are going [to make would be] to be more food focused than what would have been in there.”
Craft opened its flagship location in Calgary in June 2011.
“There was really a void in the craft beer market in Calgary when we opened up,” L’Heureux said.
“We’ve seen the craft beer community and craft beer culture grow.”
June’s E&Y receivership report to the BC Supreme Court stated that 219 of the 737 Olympic Village’s residential suites remained unsold.
