In yet another sign of an improving economy, Terrace will soon have a renovated motel and a re-opened pub.
The Evergreen Pub and Evergreen Motel, located beside each other on Hwy16 leading west of Terrace, have been purchased from Hundal Holdings by contractor Tyson Hull of Frozen North Developments and two silent partners.
Negotiations for the pub and 19-room motel took six months.
“I’ve always liked the property,” said Hull. “We were looking to diversify from the construction business to add a motel and service industry to what we do... the opportunity to buy one piece of property with two revenue streams coming off of it, I couldn’t turn down.”
The pub will be called Mumford’s Beerhouse and Grill and the motel, Mumford’s Lodge, a nod to the first paddle wheeler to make it to Terrace.
The plan is to renovate the motel inside and out, with care to match the exterior of the hotel with the existing exterior of the pub, which was built in 2000, to create a bright facility that is all tied in together.
Christine Leclerc, who is also Hull’s girlfriend, will be the general manager of both the pub and motel, and Randy Chalifoux, a chef who was at one time an instructor at Northwest Community College, has been hired to run the kitchen.
“We really want to incorporate a Terrace-theme throughout the restaurant,” said Leclerc. “We’ll have drinks with names like ‘sipping beauty’, for Sleeping Beauty (mountain), just little things to incorporate our local [atmosphere].”
Chalifoux said is thinking of an upscale pub menu with items that will appeal to everyone but that aren’t available in Terrace.
A large kitchen means there will be a catering arm to the business, he said, and the upstairs of the pub will be renovated to accommodate groups and events.
Particular attention will be paid to the beer list – with 72 racks behind the bar to hold beers from around the world and plans to serve BC craft beer (including local brew) on the nine taps.
And a carefully crafted BC wine list and locally sourced, seasonal ingredients including seafood and wild game will be used whenever possible.
“It’s local people that own it, local people that are going to be running it, local foods and local drinks,” said Chalifoux.
“Hiring locals,” adds Leclerc. The team is looking to fill over two dozen positions in the motel and restaurant, with the bonus of on site red seal chef training opportunities available under Chalifoux.
“They come in as an apprentice, they get a job, and they get training out of it,” said Chalifoux. “It’s a win for everybody.”
He is currently working for the Piping Industry College of BC, where he does a lot of apprenticeship trades training, and wants to see more chef apprenticeship training opportunities in Terrace.
The trio haven’t wasted any time diving into their new venture – the motel was fully operational when they took it over, and renovations on the pub (think a timber-framed style pub with rich wood, cozy booths, a fireplace for aprés ski) are set to begin soon.
“We don’t have the biggest budget starting off, but slowly but surely we want to chip away ... continuous improvement,” said Leclerc.
The group is aiming for a mid-June opening for the pub.