One thing COVID-19 didn鈥檛 hinder was the opening of 91原创鈥檚 latest brewery and restaurant.
The plans to open Smugglers鈥� Trail Caskworks (9339 200A St.) have been in the works for sometime, but what founders Jamie Overgaard and Stephen Gregorig didn鈥檛 anticipate it that they would be embarking on this venture amid a pandemic.
鈥淲ho knows what鈥檚 going to happen with all of this in weeks, right? We could be right back to the drawing board 鈥� with the COVID situation we don鈥檛 really know,鈥� said Overgaard.
鈥淒efinitely a lot of uncertainty out there, but we think we鈥檝e put together a pretty good crew 鈥� good place鈥� we鈥檙e hoping we can tease a few people out at least,鈥� he laughed.
During the planning process the 91原创 residents said they actually 鈥渨ent back to the drawing board鈥� with their design concept and decided to add a full kitchen and expand their menu, which slightly altered their timeline to open.
COVID-19 had little impact on getting the business ready to open, but now it鈥檚 playing a big role in how it operates.
鈥淚t鈥檚 now that it鈥檚 impacting things, obviously being open and trying to get people through the doors and make sure we鈥檙e following all the rules with social distancing鈥� that鈥檚 kind of where the real work has been focused,鈥� Overgaard explained.
The team has held some soft openings leading up to this past weekend 鈥� the grand opening 鈥� and Overgaard said they were busy.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a lot of buzz,鈥� he said.
On Monday, Township council will meet to hold to consider the restaurant鈥檚 request to increase its overall occupant load from 102 to 147 people through the addition of a new licenced area, a 45 person covered patio.
Although the approval of structural change applications is covered by the province, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch allows council to 鈥渆ndorse鈥� or 鈥渘ot endorse鈥� applications for permanent additions of patios, according to the Township.
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Currently, Smugglers鈥� Trail Caskworks employs about 20 people, which Overgaard said are 鈥渁lmost exclusively from the 91原创 area.鈥�
So where did the pair get the idea for the name?
鈥淥ur name was inspired by the colourful legends of smugglers and miners who travelled these parts during the Gold Rush,鈥� they explain on their website. 鈥淭he Smugglers Trail was a secret route for enterprising outlaws to transport gold, beer and other desirable goods through these parts, while dodging British tax collectors and authorities.鈥�
For more information on Monday鈥檚 council meeting visit, and for more about Smugglers鈥� Trail Caskworks visit, .
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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