By Keith Powell
Based on the number of Instagram likes (@kootenayrockiesbizbuzz) these were the most popular business stories in 2023.
1. Cranbrook – Ella’s Moves to new Location
Jamaica meets Canada — Ella’s Restaurant has taken their Jamaican vibe down Cranbrook Street to a spacious, newly renovated location at 300 Cranbrook Street. The new freestanding restaurant is owned and operated by Aleitha Harvey and Rohan Blair. The couple immigrated from Jamaica seven years ago, and they bring with them almost 20 years of restaurant and hospitality industry experience.
Ella’s boasts an authentic lineup of Jamaican/Caribbean infused dishes and is fully licensed. Customers are loving the new location and the expanded menu. Here’s one comment about Ella’s, “I love the food and service here. The quality of the cooking, and the warmth of the service make it suitable for everyday and event dining.”
Ella’s has a staff of 13, and a seating capacity of 98. Ella’s will also complete a large outdoor dining patio later this spring or summer. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some authentic Jamaican food, and be sure to give a nod to Bob Marley.
2. Cranbrook - Encore Brewing Brings Bowling and Beer to Town
Encore Brewing is the newest venture of owners Fred Williams and Jesse Roberts, who also own and operate the Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap in Cranbrook. The business partners have transformed the former Juniper Lanes into a new social gathering and dining spot called Encore Brewing.
There are eight lanes of bowling, several billiard tables, a spacious community dining area, a performance stage, multiple game rooms and a craft beer brewing facility.
“Encore has been designed to offer an inviting and comfortable space for fun and games along with good food and beer,” said Ian McCann (pictured), operations manager at Encore Brewing. “Our capacity is 210 people and our guests can enjoy a meal or a beverage in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. We are all about community socialization.”
Encore Brewing, which employs 45 people, offers six drafts on tap as well as off sales. They will be hosting live music and events in the future. Encore Brewing is located at the corner of Kootenay Street and 4th Street N in Cranbrook.
3. Cranbrook: Closet 31 Consignment Opens
Welcome to Closet 31. Andrea Gramm (R) and her daughter Lauren (L) have partnered to open an upscale consignment clothing boutique in downtown Cranbrook. Heather Begin is their sales associate.
“Clothing and fashion have always been my passion. When this opportunity came up to purchase Pippins I knew it was my time! This well established ladies clothing consignment business has been in Cranbrook for 27 years. Dolly Pinchak had a fantastic customer base,” said Andrea Gramm. “My family supported me one hundred percent during this process, and so much of it (store renovations) we were able to do ourselves.”
Customers are invited to stop by to browse their wide selection of vintage and contemporary clothing, shoes and accessories. You will find Closet 31 at 31 - 10th Avenue South in Cranbrook. Follow them on social media @closet31boutique
4. Kimberley: Kootenay Entrepreneurial Showcase: Traveling Top-Ups – Kimberley
Travelling Top-Ups is a mobile, zero-waste retailer and refill service owned and operated by Kimberley’s Lindsay Sacket. I recently met Lindsay at a market, and she explained her business strategy, “We provide sustainable household and personal care products to folks who are looking for ways to reduce waste. Our mobile refillery model makes shopping for refillable and zero-waste products more convenient and accessible.”
Travelling Top-Ups is based in Kimberley, BC, but they are able to serve customers in Cranbrook, Fernie, and surrounding communities. With our e-bike and trailer setup, we are to provide accessible and convenient zero-waste delivery, completely emissions-free when the weather allows for it!
Learn more about this unique business at — travellingtopups.com
5. Cranbrook —[Cheque Presentation]
My company, Wild Horse Creek Press, was pleased to recently present the non-profit Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History with a cheque for $4,500 from the proceeds of selling the new book, Forgotten Cranbrook.
Erin Knutson, executive director and co-editor of the book, accepted the cheque in the studio of 2Day FM Radio during an interview with Dennis Walker.
6. Cranbrook: The Bubble Hut Expands to Full Service Cafe
If you are looking for the new Bubble Hut Café, you will find it right next door to its previous location. The Bubble Hut Cafe is a locally owned and family operated bubble tea shop and full service cafe.
The new Bubble Hut Cafe now has complete kitchen facilities, and offers a full food menu in addition to milk teas, fruit teas, fresh milk lattes and bubble waffles. It can also seat up to 30 people.
According to co-owner Shannon Tang, “Our new food menu includes popular items like Pho, Banh Mi, Noodles Bowls and bakery items.”
The cafe anticipates adding an outdoor patio next summer. The Bubble Hut Cafe is located at 11A 14th Ave S Cranbrook and is open Monday through Saturday.
7. Elko: Canmore couple new owners at Elko’s 3 & 93 Dairy Bar
Adam and Heather Demaniuk are the new owners of the 3 & 93 Dairy Bar at Elko. The Demaniuk’s, who are from Canmore, took over the popular Dairy Bar in March 2023. When asked why they liked the business the Demaniuk’s said, “We had been going to the 3 & 93 for a dozen years or so with family. Heather’s brother and mom both live in Fernie, and we wanted to be closer to them.”
They added, “We love the nostalgia of the Dairy Bar - next year is the 60th anniversary of the Dairy Bar and we wanted to carry on the tradition. The business had been for sale for a long time and we were afraid that someone else would buy it and make a whole bunch of changes to it.”
It has been a busy transfer. “We have had great weather thus far and the whole South Country community has been so supportive and welcoming. Additionally, we were fortunate enough to hire a great team - the returning staff from previous years have been so helpful to us as we learned the business,” said the Demaniuk’s.
The couple doesn’t have any major changes on the horizon. They said there will be a few subtle changes to the menu and a few new items we wanted to try, but for the most part, they want to keep the same recipe for success.
8. Entrepreneurial Showcase: [Little Wildflowers – Kimberley]
Little Wildflowers is a home-based business in Kimberley that illustrates the creativity of local entrepreneurs. Becky Fluker owns and operates this sewing company business from her cozy home in Kimberley’s townsite.
Becky designs and sells an unique line up of dolls that have personality and a full line of custom-made clothes and accessories. She produces everything from mini-handbags and toques to dresses and jumpsuits for the dolls. As well as, an exquisite line up of practical and beautiful aprons.
“I developed a love affair with sewing and creating at a very young age. Grandma was a seamstress and passed her love of sewing on to me,” said Becky Fluker, designer and lead maker of the Little Wildflower dolls and aprons. “When I became a mom, I turned my love of design, sewing and creating into something that would allow me to be home with my sweet girl.”
Little Wildflowers Dolls and Aprons are handcrafted in their in-home studio nestled in the mountains at Kimberley, British Columbia Canada.
For orders or more information visit: www.littlewildflowers.ca
9. Cranbrook: Talaria Opens in Downtown
Amanda Cameron (pictured front row center), the owner and manager of Talaria Footwear and Adornment in Kimberley has opened a new store in downtown Cranbrook. Talaria’s Cranbrook retail space is just shy of 1,200 square feet and also has a large storage area. The welcoming showroom offers a wide variety of name brand footwear from Birkenstocks to A.S.98 boots.
“Our Cranbrook store will have unique shoe lines as well as some of the same brands that our Kimberley store carries,” says Amanda Cameron, owner. “From my own experience finding good fitting shoes, I know the importance of quality footwear for both comfort and appearance.”
Talaria in Cranbrook is located at 1119 Baker Street and is open 7 days a week.
10. Fernie: Kombucha Producer For Sale
Looking for an entrepreneurial business in the beverage sector? Fernie Alpine Springs (FAS), a Kombucha producer based in Fernie is for sale.
The company was incorporated in the fall of 2016. It started to commercially introduce Kombucha on tap in the spring of 2017, and then in bottles to the retail market in 2020. Fernie Alpine Springs works in partnership with two distributors, and is currently distributing in British Columbia and Alberta.
The Kombucha industry is growing in popularity, with limited competition.
Revenue comes from a brewery store, local markets, B2B and wholesale distribution. FAS has a yearly Kombucha production capacity of 300,000 bottles, plus kegs. The sale includes equipment, media platforms, recipes and ECCnet registry. The brewery is designed to manufacture multiple beverage types. The business is offered at $349,000 for all the assets.