Whitby Mayor says response to Town Brewery pop-up at Pump House has been “phenominal”

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Published May 26, 2023 at 3:34 pm

Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy says there has been “phenomenal response” to the pop-up awarded to Town Brewery at the historic Pump House on the waterfront.

Roy told insauga founder Khaled Iwamura’s podcast there wasn’t much that needed to be done to the Pump House to get it ready after the walls were reinforced, new flooring was put in and protective fencing installed to prevent vandalism last year.

Town, which is targeting the July 1 long weekend for its first pop-up and will have exclusive pop-up rights on the building until September 30, is likely bringing in a C-container for food prep and storage, she added.

Rental rates of $2,000 per month have been deliberately set low as the space has been vacant for so many years and to encourage Town, who will use the space from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, to focus on capital investments for the area and promotion of the pop-up.

“It’s a prime spot, Roy said.

The pop-up is part of a series of improvements and good news coming to Whitby’s lakefront, Roy told insauga. Brookfield Properties, which owns land near the harbour, is building a bridge at Brock Street, shoring up a seawall and creating a pedestrian pathway as part of a condo development on both sides of Brock Street.

Roy said she expects to see some pop-ups in the area as well.

The Town is also looking into acquiring the 167 year-old Rowe House, a frame house built in 1856 for Whitby’s first Mayor, James Rowe, for community use. The Rowe House, located on Charles Street just a stone’s throw from the lake, has been used as an educational centre and museum since 1999.

Roy said the ongoing projects and more upcoming are part of a 10-15 plan to spruce up Whitby’s lakefront.

“It’s the start of good things to come on our waterfront.”

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