Beer imbibers in Central Lonsdale have a fresh new watering hole in the neighbourhood.
Steamworks North Shore has cracked its kegs and opened its doors, welcoming guests to its taproom and restaurant for the first time.
The business opened on Boxing Day, on the ground floor of a mixed-use development at 114 21st St. East in North Vancouver.
Those who’ve visited the Steamworks location on Main Street will be treated to a similar experience, with an extensive tap list and full-kitchen menu.
Steamworks North Shore serves beer from 30 taps – half from the brewery itself and half dedicated to other local breweries.
There’s a strong emphasis on non-alcoholic offerings, which owner Carl McCreath says has been very well received.
“We’re also opening in late December, early January, so that could have something to do with it,” he said.
What’s also been a hit is the taproom’s happy hour offering, McCreath said, which is unique to the location.
“I’ve got a bunch of $10 plates, and there’s some fairly well-discounted beers,” he said.
The goal is to have a community restaurant, owner says
McCreath used to be president of the Steamworks restaurant group for around 15 years, but eventually decided he’d rather run his own location. He worked with a leasing agent, and zeroed in on North Van.
“I took a good look at the Central Lonsdale area, and there just isn’t a lot of restaurants, and there’s lots of people looking for somewhere to go,” he said.
“And it’s actually been unbelievable since we’ve been open – the amount of people that tell me they live, like, two blocks away, and they’re just so happy to have an amenity like this in their neighborhood,” McCreath said. “It’s been incredible.”
Things have been humming along at his 140-seat restaurant so far, and he looks forward to opening up his huge, 130-seat patio once the weather, and his service, warms up a bit.
McCreath said he’s been spending lots of time on the North Shore in recent years, as he’s been dating someone that lives here.
“I really enjoy it,” he said. “I’ve always thought the North Shore, if you can actually be lucky enough to work and live [here], it’s like the perfect community.”
McCreath said he enjoys the community so much that he’s just signed a lease to make it his home.
“For me, the goal was to have a community restaurant, get to know the locals, be an owner-operator, worry about my four walls, just become part of the community,” he said.
And when it comes to running the business, McCreath said he’s pretty hands on.
“I’m bussing tables, getting the door right now,” he said “As we talk, I’m making the floor plan for tonight, going through the reservations. I’m definitely not an absentee owner.”
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