I don’t drink alcohol, but all of my buddies in North Burnaby do.
Which is why they have been so frustrated with the lack of pub and bar options in the northern half of the city.
When I moved back to hometown a few years ago, there was basically the Hop & Vine and the Admiral, which seems to be a low number for a place as big as this.
Then The Study at SFU opened up and things improved. But then the Admiral closed down, following by The Study as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on businesses.
The Study did reopen – briefly – in September but has closed its doors once again – hopefully just temporarily.
The good news is that the Admiral reopened with an expanded menu and a brighter future. Now, North Burnaby is poised to add a series of bars and pubs in the future.
The Amazing Brentwood gave me a tour of its food court Tables earlier this year and they told me that the western side will once day include a new pub using a concept being developed by White Spot.
In the same mall, Cineplex opened up the Rec Room, which features a huge bar that is set off in its own area for adults to lounge and enjoy some fine beer, cocktails and wine.
But the biggest addition is with the announced that Tap & Barrel would be moving into a multi-level space in the plaza area at the Amazing Brentwood that will see total 17,000 square feet of space added.
“Scheduled to open in early 2023 in one of the Amazing Brentwood’s most highly-coveted spaces, Tap & Barrel is poised to impress with an indoor-outdoor dining concept, an expansive rooftop patio, elevated comfort food, and some of the most remarkable views available to any restaurant in Burnaby,” said a news release.
This announcement comes on the heels of last month’s news that Earls Restaurants will be opening a new Burnaby location at The Amazing Brentwood in 2022.
Once complete, Tap & Barrel will expand over three levels, boasting over 10,000 square feet of interior restaurant space and a sprawling 7,000 square feet of roof-top patio space.
Tap & Barrel is known for its expansive bar program that features a bounty full of local craft beer and wines, as well as a curated food menu with dishes developed specifically for that location.
Earls Restaurants is set to open a new 231-seat location on the plaza. Featuring a 50-seat seasonal patio, the outdoor space will be connected to the lounge by sliding glass windows, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor restaurant concept.
Once you add it all up, North Burnaby will become a true hub for people who enjoyed a nice bar/pub-type of atmosphere.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
