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It’s been long-awaited, but it looks like Revelry Food+Music Hub is close to the finish line.
Downtown Kelowna’s newest music venue announced today that it expects to open its doors to the public this summer.
The renovated former produce warehouse, located across from the library at 1383 Ellis St., will function as a “casual café, music hall and urban meeting space all under one roof.”
A release from Revelry says live music and dining formats will vary by time of day and day of week, but promised that “something new and exciting” will always be on the horizon.
It’s been a lengthy process to get to this stage, as Revelry has faced strong opposition from residents of the nearby Madison apartment building.
Owner Lee Simon first submitted his proposal to build Revelry to city hall in August 2020 and it was supported by council through the development process.
However, Madison residents led by strata president Lloyd Pederson started to voice their opposition to the project and filed a petition in BC Supreme Court to stop it in its tracks.
They even raised more than $10,000 for legal fees through a GoFundMe, but Simon stood his ground and defended the need for a venue like Revelry.
“Kelowna is evolving. In this post-pandemic environment, new models are required to save live music – because it is in trouble,” he said in September 2022.
“We will continue our endless work on behalf of live music, and the countless benefits and connections that it provides for our community.”
The battle between Revelry and the Madison appears to be in the rear-view mirror and the venue is moving forward with expectations of a summer 2023 opening.
Simon has already hired Ali Lewis as general manager and Andrea Callan as the food and beverage manager, and the pair is now looking to build a team of culinary and audio-visual professionals to join the staff. Click here to learn more.
There is still some mystery surrounding what Revelry looks like inside the exterior walls, but you can visit the venue’s website to learn more about the concept.
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