SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Old Town industrial area may soon be home to a new restaurant and microbrewery pub at government dock.
Architect Wayne Guy is developing this government dock property for a proposed restaurant and microbrewery pub operated by NWT Brewing Company. - Thandiwe Vela/NNSL photo
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Architect Wayne Guy plans to develop the McDonald Drive property on Yellowknife Bay, which most recently housed TJ's Nut Hut, for the establishment that would be run by the NWT Brewing Company.
"What we're looking at doing there is expanding the deck around the south and east side of the building for public decks that would tie into the restaurant and brewery. We'd be looking at opening up some windows so that from within the building there's views to the lake and from outside there's views from the new public dock to the interior," Guy said. "There would be food and beverage services offered on the deck that is associated with the building so you could sort of sit and enjoy Yellowknife Bay in the summer outside."
The business proposal, which is now under review by the City of Yellowknife, is reminiscent of a similar establishment in Old Town's history, the Bush Pilot's Brew Pub, which was run in the 1990s.
"It was really a remarkable place once upon a time. It's hard to believe that it ever actually existed," said Nick MacIntosh, whose brother Victor MacIntosh opened the old brew pub on Wiley Road. "It was such a unique thing.
"You can imagine having a bar down in Old Town was awesome, especially in summer but I think it was a nice place to go even in the winter."
The Bush Pilot's Brew Pub had an airplane wing as the bar top and offered free peanuts to patrons.
"My brother would encourage you to throw the shells on the ground," MacIntosh said. "It was encouraged. I imagine it probably helped to soak up some of the stale beer kind of like saw dust and he just swept it away at the end of the night. That place was such an awesome place."
Carl Clouter, whose wing became the bar top at Bush Pilots after an "episode" in the barrenlands, said the brew pub was a popular spot for bush pilots.
"The location was excellent right on the shoreline there so a lot of the guys used to pop in there and of course the beer, the beer was pretty good as well," Clouter said.
Victor MacIntosh's Arctic Brewing Company lobbied to have legislation changed to allow beer to be brewed and sold and offered a variety at the brew pub including an Arctic Diamond traditional ale, a pale or blond Arctic Gold ale, a stout and an Arctic Red amber beer. But the beer did not always get rave reviews.
"Some people criticized some of the batches for being a little green because he didn't give them enough time to cure before he had to put them out however he really nailed some of the flavours," said Nick MacIntosh.
Guy said he has tasted the beer of the NWT Brewing Company operators and is "a big fan.
"I've enjoyed every one I've tasted. I think they're going to do very well," he said.
As opposed to the historical Bush Pilot brew pub, which was located facing north where the deck was often shaded, the location being proposed now has south exposure, so that during the summer the deck would be warmed by the sun, Guy said.
"This has views all the way up Yellowknife Bay," he said. "Perfect orientation for best view and solar gain."
The developers anticipate spin off from having the government dock eatery such as boat rentals, boat tours, and even a weekend market.
"And it would plug in very nicely to other festivals such as Ramble and Ride," Guy said. "I think what it does is provide a lovely amenity for Old Town residents and Yellowknifers and tourists alike for really enjoying what is really one of the best attributes of Yellowknife which is the water. We're located on one of the world's 10 biggest lakes and it's very difficult at times to remember that."
Guy Architects is designing the building, which is owned by Guy's numbered company 6165 NWT Ltd..
Layouts showing what the pub would look like have been circulated to residents around the pilots monument area.
Demolition and construction of the establishment could start as early as this month if approved by the city, Guy said.
