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Pizza or panini or a room with a view?

Old timers out for a stroll along Maple Beach might be struck with a vivid sense of déjà vu as they walk past Evelyn Roth’s former art studio on Bayview Drive – it’s returning to its original existence as a store and café.
Local residents Carol and Stephen Fowler began the process of buying the historical building last year and have been feverishly engaged in drawing up plans, obtaining permits and renovating ever since. The Fowlers engaged local architect Brian Hart to ensure the historical legacy of the building, originally built in 1920, was retained while fulfilling modern day zoning and building code requirements.

“We’re trying to restore it historically with the open porch and pillars,” says Stephen Fowler “but we have done a major service, plumbing and electrical upgrade. Brian Hart was very helpful in making sure the look was good. It’s been a lot of work but people who have been going by and see how the building is coming back have been very pleased.”

In a sense, Stephen is returning to his roots. Before his present career as a software entrepreneur and before a successful career as a stockbroker, he was maitre d’ at the historic Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. As such, he developed strong opinions on what people look for in a restaurant. “We like to eat well and what we’re trying to do is bring the quality you expect in fine restaurants in Vancouver down to the Point,” he says.

Once completed, the café will hold seating for 35 people and will offer takeout as well. A major draw will be the wood-fired pizza oven, constructed by Wood Stone Corporation of Bellingham, one of the foremost wood fired stove manufacturers in the world. Although the menu has yet to be finalized, patrons can expect good things like pizza and chicken or salmon coming out of the wood-fired oven employing fresh herbs and produce combined with good wines at decent prices. Panini sandwiches, rustic breads, espresso, lots of different cheeses, fresh fruits, ice cream and homemade desserts should provide enough variety to appeal to all tastes.

The location will also provide a retail outlet for Carol’s current business which, in a nutshell, can be described as all things lavender. Owner of Lavender Fields, Carol grows and sells lavender and lavender products throughout the lower mainland and on the internet. The country store will offer fresh and dried lavender, other lavender products, soaps, local jams and honey and more.

The upstairs is a newly restored residence that will be available to rent for out of town visitors. There are two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, two sleeping porches with views over Boundary Bay and Mt. Baker, a 500 square foot sunset deck and a separate entrance. “We think it’ll be a great getaway for people from Vancouver and elsewhere,” says Stephen. “We thought there’s a limited amount of good accommodations on the Point and we are able to offer a historical flair at a 2002 standard. We’ve already got our first renter for August.”

Although the Fowlers had hoped to open the restaurant this summer, the time needed for construction and permits prevented that. They are looking toward a soft opening in the early part of 2003, giving them time to hire and train employees. “We want everything to be just right when we open,” says Stephen. . .

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