55 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

I hear that there are some changes afoot at Harbour House, possibly involving the ownership. Has anyone heard anything?

[Victoria Watcher]

It was for sale.

[Mike K.]

Like within the last week?

[Matt R.]

Melissa and Andre are both gone now I think, perhaps there was a larger ownership group involved in this and they got bought out.  They recently posted a group photo of the most recent chef and Melissa wasn't even in the photo.

[Mike K.]

Was that the couple?

[Matt R.]

Yes, they ran (owned?) Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler for many years and who knows what else.

[pontcanna]

Man in Sooke Harbour House legal dispute loses bid to overturn deportation order

Durkin, ordered in 2020 to pay $4m in damages to former owners of Sooke Harbour House, sought a judicial review of the deportation order

A man at the centre of legal battles with the former owners of Sooke Harbour House hotel has lost his fight in Federal Court against a deportation order.

Madame Justice Azmudeh dismissed Timothy Craig Durkin’s bid for a judicial review of the order in a Feb. 21 decision in Ottawa.

After the order was issued in 2023, Durkin made a number of attempts to block it.

Durkin cited health concerns and said he was unable to support himself financially.

Durkin, 73, is a citizen of the UK who was brought to Canada when he was 1 yr old but never obtained citizenship.

 

More: https://www.timescol...-order-10285753

[Matt R.]

What the heck is going on here. I read it’s for sale again, with one commenter saying it’s actually sold already, ink has just dried. I think the most recent “managing partners” from Whistler split almost immediately after the reopen and have both moved on from the property.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Sooke Harbour House is once again changing hands, marking a new chapter in the long and tumultuous history of the property.

The listing for the Oceanfront Restaurant & Boutique Hotel from Colliers Canada included properties at 1528, 1529 and 1536 Whiffin Spit Road. These amount to 3.04 acres of oceanfront property, 28 guest rooms, a fine dining restaurant and lounge space.

Colliers Canada confirmed that the sale of the property closed July 24.



https://www.vicnews....or-sale-8153215

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 July 2025 - 02:45 PM.

[Sparky]

^ These two sentences are in the same article that is linked above. Jeepers

 

Colliers Canada confirmed that the sale of the property closed July 24.

 

Now, the building's future is once again uncertain as Colliers Canada searches for a new owner.

[Barrister]

The believe the article says that the property has already sold and has new owners.

 

It may be a difficult property to make profitable

[Victoria Watcher]

^ These two sentences are in the same article that is linked above. Jeepers

Colliers Canada confirmed that the sale of the property closed July 24.

Now, the building's future is once again uncertain as Colliers Canada searches for a new owner.

Ya sloppy editing. Probably from an earlier article.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 July 2025 - 03:53 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The boutique oceanfront, luxury resort, the Sooke Harbour House, has changed hands again, after being listed with Colliers Canada earlier this year.

 

According to Stephen Moscovich, Colliers Canada senior vice president, the property sold on July 23 and was purchased by Luke Evanow of West Vancouver.

 

“So the fellow who just sold it, he bought it out of receivership in 2019 and spent a bunch of money renovating it, and then opened it in October,” Moscovich told CHEK.

 

According to Moscovich, in January 2025 the owner decided it didn’t fit his criteria long-term, and Colliers was brought in to handle the marketing of the property.

 

The new owner, Evanow, also owns the Driftwood Inn in Sechelt, Fred’s Restaurant in West Vancouver, and Crema Cafe Bar in Vancouver. He’s also the founder and CEO of Foundry Kitchens, which provides food service designs, fabrication and equipment to professional kitchens in the Vancouver area.

 

“He’s very well-versed in the boutique hotel and food service industry,” says Moscovich.

 

“He [Evanow] has some long-term growth plans and further upgrades to the property, but as of two days ago, he has taken it over.”

 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...-again-1268729/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 July 2025 - 02:20 AM.

[Mike K.]

According to Moscovich, in January 2025 the owner decided it didn’t fit his criteria long-term, and Colliers was brought in to handle the marketing of the property.

I thought there was a divorce, no? It was a husband and wife team.

I was there a couple of times in recent weeks. The lunch menu could really use some work. The food was ok, but you could tell the finesse wasn’t there. Dinner was better. We’re going back again for their mussel Mondays deal soon. Hopefully it’s still on offer!

[Matt R.]

The husband and wife team were “managing partners”. News reports the owner as AIG Enterprises - any relation to AIG Insurance?

I have purchased a lot of equipment from Foundry over the years, always great to work with.

[Mike K.]

Managing partners means they are partners in the ownership of the asset. They may have more partner co-owners, of course.