Highly anticipated gastro pub opens in Cranbrook

City’s old Fire Hall enjoys a new lease on life as a family-friendly gastro pub known as the Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap

The Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap attempted a soft opening on June 13, 2018, but Cranbrook quickly took notice, eating and drinking the new family-friendly gastro pub quite literally out of house and home.

“We tried to do a casual, silent open but then Cranbrook showed up and ate all our food and drank all our beer!” wrote the business a few days later on social media. “WE ARE CLOSED TONIGHT TO RESTOCK. We look forward to a FULL OPEN TOMORROW AT 11 AM. Thanks so much to everyone who checked us out. This weekend was a dream come true.”

It’s no surprise, really, since many eyes have been on this 89-year-old building. The City’s Fire Hall No. 1 was sold to young Cranbrook entrepreneurs, Jesse Roberts and Fred Williams, in June 2017.

Since then, it has undergone an extensive, $1 million-plus transformation. The owners promised they would retain the building’s heritage look, and that they did. Exposed red brick remains on the exterior, complemented by a stuccoed entrance and two patios.

Inside, a considerable amount of work had to be done; still, brick runs throughout, refurbished wood is featured and overhead garage doors open to the ground-floor patio.

Constructed in 1929 for a price of $12,144.00, the Fire Hall was used by Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services until March 31, 2011. When it first came on the market, it was listed for $349,000. The building sold for $195,000.