The first week back in business will have passed for The Railway Stage & Beer Café. That’s the new name given to the former location of the Railway Club. The beloved Vancouver institution was shuttered for nine months before being given a thorough facelift by new owners, the Donnelly Group.
A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the city that the legendary venue didn’t sit empty for anywhere near as long as the three-year, 1996-’99 hiatus for the Commodore Ballroom before House of Blues (now Live Nation) reopened that celebrated venue.
After an 84-year run, former owner Steve Silman couldn’t find a buyer and the Railway Club closed. Obviously, like the “new” Commodore, the revised Rail isn’t the same place it was because it didn’t work. Under Donnelly Group proprietorship, prospects are far better for the future.
Here are five things you’ll want to know coming from recent patrons of the newly opened watering hole who answered my call-out for comments on Facebook as well as observations following a pre-opening walk-through:
1. There will be live music:
Local act the Zolas and Winnipeg’s Mise en Scene were the first groups to grace the stage, and entertainment is planned Tuesday through Saturday. Waldorf and Fox Cabaret booker Thomas Anselmi has been hired to develop the programming. Presently, the roster includes the following, and the full calendar is coming:
Tuesdays:
JOKES — Hosted by Dino Archie and Gavin Matts.
Wednesday:
The Living Society Presents — special guest/live performances weekly.
Thursdays:
Boogie Nights: Funk and soul — Special guest/live performances weekly.
Fridays:
Ya Dig? With DJs Roy Abel and friends.
Saturdays:
Lust for Life: Greatest Hits of All Time — live bands and DJs.
Thursdays/Fridays:
Happy Hour Live with Tonye Aganaba — 5-8 p.m.
2. The sound system and stage zone is fully revamped:
Busy local-studio and touring drummer Geoff Hicks (Jim Byrnes, Colin James, The Modelos) checked it out and says: “The stage is well done, draped in lots of red curtains, which tightens the sound. Exposed beams overhead and tiny tea lights at a cooler room like Toronto’s Dakota. The sound was pumping, especially the bass frequency.” Note to the owners: Many commenting on social media found the music in between bands to be equally pumping and far too loud.
3. The sight lines are greatly improved (and, yes, so are those bathrooms):
On my pre-opening tour the first thing that caught my eye was that the entire room was opened right up by tearing out the pillars and overhang on both ends of the bar. You can sit in the corner and watch the band. Plus, with the removal of the ratty awnings and raising of the ceiling, the place is much brighter and airy. Some detractors missed the dark and slightly dilapidated coziness. This writer misses the bench seating. Particularly my former corner spot. Sigh.
4. Lots of beer:
Paul Done of Epic Media explained the Donnelly Group vision for the brew: “We have over 200 craft taps, but this program is going to be different. There are 24 taps, four of which are beer engines for hand-pulled casks, so every time you come in there will be something you haven’t seen before to sample. We want to encourage people to try it out since it could be the one time you’ll get a chance to. Like the live music, we want it to be unique.”
5. Open for lunch:
Key to the place’s success is to have people in the room during the full business day, and that means the downtown lunch crowd. Chef Alvin Pillay helms the food program, which is all priced at $10 or less: “Six Italian-pressed-style sandwiches such as tuna melts and a house chili-braised beef brisket, three salad selections and a couple of daily soups all can be ordered from your server or at the café window. We are aiming at good value, ready fast.”
The final word goes to local singer-songwriter Savannah Leigh Wellman, who really hit the nail on the head as far as the whole issue of the past and present goes: “The updates look great. There’s more space, the sound system and stage are a huge improvement, and it still feels like the Railway Club. The challenge will be if it can survive as a live-music venue, where music is appreciated and not an afterthought — and that will depend completely on the clientele. So I urge every musician or music supporter that mourned the loss of the Railway to put their money where their Facebook rants were, go to the shows, sit up front and listen to some music.”
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