Photo: Facebook

Little Hobo owners Crystal Dougan and Stephen MacDonald in the kitchen that is slated to undergo renovations.

The Little Hobo's kitchen is hoping to make a move, at least in the short term.

The popular downtown Kelowna lunch spot specializing in comfort food has been closed for more than a month.

Owner Crystal Dougan updated customers on the Little Hobo Soup and Sandwich Shop Facebook Page recently. “The Little Hobo has been closed to the public now for just over a month… and in that time frame we have recognized some kitchen renos that have to be completed before we can reopen…. Big job ahead of us! So what now?!,” she wrote.

Dougan says she is in the process of signing a short term lease at the former Renegade Kitchen building on Leon Avenue. The plan is to use the site as a production kitchen only, but that could change.

It was back on January 2 that Dougan and co-owner Stephen MacDonald announced on social media that Little Hobo, located at 596 Leon Ave., would be closed for renovations for the month of January. The work has turned out to be more than expected and it will take longer than planned.

“We will be moving the majority of our equipment ect. out of the shop to complete the renovation… this is going to take place mid Feb… if all the stars align,” wrote Crystal in her January 30 Facebook post.

In the meantime, devotees of the restaurant’s trademark soups and other treats can find them at several retail locations around the Central Okanagan, including the T-Bones locations in Kelowna and West Kelowna, Grillers Meats in Lake Country.

Dougan adds that once Little Hobo staff gets settled in at the temporary location in the old Renegade Kitchen, they will consider catering and frozen meal delivery.