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On October 15, the Little Hobo opened it’s new location, at the Streaming Cafe’s old site. Ever since, familiar and unfamiliar faces have coursed through their doors, enchanted by great food, loving service and can’t-be-beat prices.
In addition to having a bigger location, the Hobo also has a bigger menu. The Hobo now opens at 8am and offers breakfast and an extended lunch menu. Burgers are back after a few years off and many weekly favourites have been promoted to the everyday menu.
The Little Hobo has been an Okanagan classic since 1975. Since its inauguration, the restaurant has faced its fair share of ups and downs. It was once a region-wide chain with locations across the Okanagan, now the Kelowna restaurant is the last standing.
“When I was growing up, there were several Little Hobo’s scattered across the Okanagan,” said Crystal Dougan, who owns the restaurant alongside her husband Steve. “We are the last ones left. We brought the location because it was special to the community and special to us. It was nostalgic.”
Crystal isn’t the only one to have a passion for the homemade grub offered at The Little Hobo. In 2011, Tripadvisor rated it the best restaurant in B.C. and anyone who’s tried to order food from the restaurant between the hours of 11am and 2pm can certainly testify to it’s busyness.
Yet, simply because the restaurant is a classic from times gone by doesn’t mean it isn’t keeping up with the modern age. The new location features beautiful design, stunning art work and a brand new kitchen kitted out with swanky appliances that promise to cook all your favourites.
“The food is just as good as ever,” said Dean, a local limo driver. “That’s why I always come here, it’s great and the price is even better. Plus the owners are incredible people.”
“The new location is phenomenal,” said Steve, owner. “Things are going better than we could have imagined and people are loving it. It such a joy to see our regulars coming back and to meet the new people from around this area. We thank our customers and the leasing agents, Devara Holdings, who we couldn’t have done without.”
The Little Hobo is about more than just great food. As social workers who always dreamed of owning a restaurant, Crystal and Steve have decorated the walls with meaningful art from Keith Funk. For this month, the art is about homelessness.
“While we’re not social workers anymore, we’re still passionate about helping the community,” said Crystal. “We want to bring a little awareness to the cause. It’s just a different way of helping.”
On a personal note, as a frequent visitor to The Little Hobo, it was a joy to see it bustling with life and energy once again. For as long as I’ve been going there, I’ve always felt warmly welcomed by the friendly and caring staff and fulfilled by the delicious food.
Now that it’s in a larger location, I can’t wait to see where it’ll go.
The Lil Hobo is open on weekdays from 8 - 2:30 and is located at 596 Leon Ave, Kelowna.
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