A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Team From Brassneck, Alibi Room to Open Beer-Focused ‘Magnet’

Here’s some excellent news on an otherwise dreary day: The crew that gave us Gastown’s legendary Alibi Room and Mt. Pleasant’s popular Brassneck Brewery are currently building a new restaurant in the old EXP Restaurant & Bar location at 309 West Pender Street.

I spoke with co-owner Nigel Springthorpe in the 3,000 sqft space during the rainstorm yesterday afternoon. He told me that Magnet – that’s the name of the new, beer-focused, counter-service establishment – has been in the works since July. “We’d been looking for the right unicorn spot for 2 to 3 years.” he explained, showing me the plans by local architecture/design firm Simcic + Uhrich while pointing out how the previous tenants had only put in 50 seats. “Our occupancy will be closer to 90.”

It’s a cool looking space that dates back to the area’s boom time between the Great Fire and the First World War — lots of brick and high ceilings. At Nigel’s request, we won’t be publishing any wide-angle shots of the interior during this stage of Magnet’s development, but I can tell you that it will see a variety of seating situations, from corner cloisters of hideaway deuces and bar height communal tables to a row of wall-hugging booths and window stools. Local artist Perrin Grauer will soon start on some colourful installation work, and the branding (which I haven’t seen yet) is being done by Post Projects.

A giant beer fridge will hide the large kitchen at the rear of the restaurant, drawing about 30 lines to the bar at the front, which will pour some ciders and wines, but mostly a constantly rotating selection of beer. To round out the drinks list in local and efficient fashion, Nigel says his team has arranged for local distillers Odd Society and Resurrection to pre-batch several cocktails employing their spirits. (It sounds pretty magnetic already.)

The food concept will be unfussy but high quality, developed and executed by chef Paul Finlay. Finlay’s been cooking at Steveston’s Gudrun Tasting Room for over five years, but he and Nigel go way back. Not only was he the first to take over the pans at the Alibi Room when Nigel purchased it some 13 years ago, but he’s also Nigel’s kid’s namesake. Nigel has dropped hints here and there about the Finlay’s menu, but the most I could get out of him yesterday is that we can expect a mix of small plates, share plates, entrees and snacks. It’s still – like the construction site (managed by Cam Johnson and his Harmony Pacific crew) – very much a work in progress.

We’ll have more on this exciting project soon.


Neighbourhood: Gastown
309 West Pender St.

There are 5 comments

  1. Rumor has it the beer selection will be even more unique then what Alibi currently offers. Its also quite funny how the tendrils of alibi room are firmly rooted across kitchens and bars across the city. Perrin is also an alibi alum and methinks the second that I know of who has gone on to covering the local beat as a reporter.

  2. The food at gudrun has always been outstanding at Finlay’s hand. Won the Gold last year at the Van Mag Awards and although I will miss his food here, I’ am happy to head to Magnet! Cant wait!

Osteria Elio Volpe Officially Opens In Cambie Street Village

The time has finally come: Osteria Elio Volpe will open at 540 West 17th Avenue this Thursday, March 14th - take a look at what you can expect...

New Chinatown Bar, Meo, Set to Officially Open March 13th

The highly anticipated retro-inspired cocktail bar brought to us by the team behind Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto (Tannis Ling, Joël Watanabe and Alain Chow) is on track to open doors next week.

Good Thief is Coming to Main Street

Scout has toured Good Thief, a new concept by Amélie and Vincent Nguyễn, the sibling duo behind the celebrated Anh and Chi. Although we're sworn to secrecy on the finer points, we can confirm that the "thrilling extension of their vision" will be very, very cool.

Slo Coffee Aiming to Bring a New Pace to the Fraserhood by Summertime

By late spring or early summer, Fraser Street is expected to welcome the new café inspired by the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi and the universal desire to just slow the fuck down.