Local Community Advertising
A pub formerly known as Ernie's Place Pub and R.J. McMasters Pub is under demolition and will be used as a parking lot.
The space will provide 80 extra parking spaces for Orchard Park Mall and the Kelowna Farmer's and Crafter's Market.
"The pub had become an eyesore," said Rachel Penner, project and administration coordinator for Redline Contracting Ltd.
Prior to the demo, hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead had to be safely removed.
But Ernie Thatcher's pub wasn't always an eyesore. In fact, son-in-law of Thatcher, Bill Justus, describes it as once "the place to be."
"He used to have red carpet nights and roast beef dinner nights and lobster dinner nights. It was a good place," said Justus, owner and chef of EK's Grill.
"Dad ran it successfully for almost 30 years I guess and when we shut it down in 2008 and basically sold it to the mall because they needed to acquire the property for Best Buy - they needed more parking spots."
Justus said he's surprised it's taken this long for the demolition to occur, but says Ernie's pub now lives on at EK's Grill, which opened three and a half years ago.
"EK's is Ernie's kids."
The demolition at the Ernie's Place Pub site started in late November and should be completed by the end of January.
Local Community Advertising