Craft beer to be Paramount

Photo: mckinley burkart

A brew pub proposed for the former Paramount Theatre site on Bernard Avenue will pay homage to the past.

Developers of the site, Ronmor Developments, have agreed to retain the iconic Paramount sign at the urging of city staff.

Planning manager Ryan Smith said developers are also planning to retain a portion of the marquee.

Plans, which city council will get a chance to review sometime next month, call for a subdivision of the 14,000-sq.-ft. space.

Craft Beer Market would occupy the larger space on the west of the building, while a commercial/retail tenant would take over the rest.

Smith said the brew pub would take up approximately 75 per cent of the space.

There are also plans for a rooftop patio.

The development application includes a seating capacity of 482 people. That includes 230 on the main floor, 48 on the mezzanine and 204 on the second floor patio.

Craft Beer Market has locations currently in Vancouver and Calgary.

"We are seeing more of these," said Smith of the brew pub concept.

"It's kind of a hybrid. It's not really a nightclub, it will probably be similar to BNA where there is food service available."

The licence would be food primary as opposed to liquor primary.

There's no time frame on when construction would begin if approved by council.