The rumours are true.
Nancy O’s Restaurant Group, which owns Nancy O's and Betulla Burning in downtown Prince George, is opening a neighbourhood pub at the old College Heights Pub location this summer.
Group president Eoin Foley said they are giving the interior of the old favourite a major refresh right now in anticipation of the grand opening in June.
“We don’t want people to walk in for the first time and feel the last few businesses still lurking in there,” Foley said. “We want people to know that this is a totally new thing.”
Tucked away at 5787 Albert Place, the location has been on Foley’s radar for the last couple of years, he added.
“We kind of knew it was an underserved market up there and back in our younger years, certainly back before Garrett and I opened Nancy O’s, it was a regular spot for us to whet our whistle,” Foley said talking about his longtime friend and business partner Garrett Fedorkiw.
“The old CHP was a great staple in town and one of the best neighbourhood pubs we’ve seen in Prince George and it’s a place that was near and dear to many people’s hearts.”
Not willing to share the name of the new establishment just yet, Foley said it will definitely have a neighbourhood pub feel.
“Definitely not anything like Nancy O’s or Betulla Burning,” he added.
“We’re going to have sports on the TVs all over the place and it will be a destination place for watching the play offs or the big fights or any regular season game and at the same time it will be a place that people think of to come to for a bite to eat and some drinks after work. Something comfortable, too. We are a blue-collar town and we certainly want guys getting off work to come straight into the pub in their work clothes and feel totally comfortable to do that. It will have a casual atmosphere you find in your friendly neighbourhood pub or sports bar.”
Foley said they will certainly support local breweries but will also carry those classic domestics on tap for folks who prefer that.
“There will be some good comfort food, with the menu leaning towards a bit of the English vibe that the old CHP used to have as well,” Foley said.
Right now the management team is being put in place and people can find the job postings at Indeed and in May people can watch for staff positions to come up there as well.
“We’re certainly very excited about this and so glad to hear the buzz around town and on social media with people asking us if the rumours are true. So I guess I can say officially it is. It’s going to be a lot of fun and we hope to meet everyone’s expectations. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone come out and enjoy the new place.”
