Claire Wyrostok and Brad MacKinnon are opening a second location of The Black Lodge. It’s been a few months in the making as there was some uncertainty surrounding the future of their original location at 630 Kingsway (the building is slated for development). They were on the prowl for a possible way out and pounced when the old Heartwood location at 317 East Broadway, a 1,600 sqft address that used to be home to Heartwood Community Cafe (previously Hatch, Rhizome), became available. They took possession on May 1st and have been working hard to finish the 70 seater in time for an early September opening. The original location will continue to operate even after the new one opens. This is a fantastic space with great bones. The high, pressed ceilings and the old wooden floors lend themselves convincingly to the theme, making it – for guests, I foresee – all the more transportive an experience.

Claire and Brad are a couple and have done all of the renovations work themselves (she’s trained as a plumber and he’s a former mechanic), save for the gorgeous, wood cabin-like booths, which were designed and built by Vancouver Tiny Homes. There are four of these, each of them with room enough to comfortably enclose six people. I think they might end up being the talking point of the space. (Either them or the freaky bathroom hallway, which is modelled after the famous Twin Peaks dream sequence.) As for the offerings, we can expect the food concept to cleave to the original (vegetarian, that is) with eight new items – give or take – added to the menu, which will also see an expanded share plates section. For refreshments, expect 8 taps for local craft beer to start. Take a look…