Changes are coming to one of the most familiar spots in downtown Qualicum Beach.
Bailey's in the Village had its last day in business this week and will reopen as the Village Eatery, with new owners, in early April.
People can expect some things to stay the same, according to Village Eatery co-owner Kymon Giakoumakis.
“We’re doing evening fare and we’re still going to keep the breakfast and coffee feel in the morning,” he said.
Co-owner Neil Bidewell added it will be "a coffee house in the morning and pizza house in the night”.
One big change is the owners say they plan to keep the restaurant open until 10 p.m. seven days a week. Some light renovations are underway now and there will be a bit of a colour change, added Giakoumakis, founder of Extreme Eatery in Parksville.
“We’re going to be building a bit of a bar front and changing that," he said. "But other than that, relatively the same.”
The evening menu will include pizza, burgers, french fries, poutine and some Greek fare.
Former Bailey's in the Village co-owner Len Thomson said people were tapping on the restaurant's door quite a bit the day after it closed, curious about what was happening.
“A lot of the locals were wondering 'is the coffee shop gone'?" Thomason said. "And I said ‘no, the coffee shop is not going, but there is a change at lunch and dinner'.”
He and wife Cindy Thomson owned the restaurant for 14 years. Both turn 70 this year and decided it was time to pass on the legacy.
“It’s going into good hands and restaurants have to a change a little bit, right, and the coffee concept — you need the evening sales,” Thomson added. "It has a lot going for it and I’m so grateful that we have some new owners in here, and local people.”
Giakoumakis said he is excited to be moving into "the best spot in Qualicum” but also nervous.
"Len and Cindy have been part of the community for so many years,” he said. “They’re very well-respected and that’s gonna be hard shoes to fill.”
Bidewell and Giakoumakis said their families will be joining them on their new venture and multiple generations will be pitching in at the Village Eatery.
Bidewell added they will plan to continue the community support that Bailey's became know for, be it the Father's Day car show or the Tour de Rock.
"We love to support this community and keep what they’ve already done intact,” he added.
Giakoumakis hopes to some time include an event called “Coffee with Len”: “We don’t want to forget them.”
Bailey's in the Village's last day in business was Feb. 26.
