A fixture in the downtown core of Squamish has changed hands.
The building that hosts Scotties Liquor Store, Hotel Squamish and the Salted Vine was sold on Dec. 15 to the Carrera Management Corporation.
“We are very excited about the purchase,” said Nevin Sangha of Carrera Management in an email to The Chief. “We have a long history in Squamish (1994) and have had an eye on this asset for some time. Hoping we can continue its service to the downtown core.”
He said the name of the liquor store may change, as Carrera is affiliated with the Eldorado Liquor Store in Vancouver.
The store’s name may be altered to include the Eldorado brand, Sangha said.
“Everything else will remain status quo,” he said.
Scott McQuade, the building’s previous owner, did not disclose the selling price, but BC Assessment’s estimate in 2017 pegged the 18,000-square-foot property’s value — land and buildings included — at about $2.07 million.
McQuade owned the building since 2005 before the sale to Carrera.
Pat Allan of the Salted Vine said that business for his restaurant will go on as usual.
The Salted Vine won’t be affected by the change in ownership.
“We’ve got a solid lease in place,” he said.
“You’re not going to get rid of us that easily,” Allan joked.
McQuade said that he sold the property because he wanted to focus on other things.
“I’ve been a realtor now for little just under a year in Squamish and I just wanted to focus entirely on that,” said McQuade.
“I want to thank people for their loyalty and patronage over the years,” he added. “I feel like I brought something to the town that people could enjoy, and I feel like I’m leaving it in a good place.”
McQuade said he got into the business after seeing the property as a great piece of real estate.
After the 2008 recession, he said he decided it would be better to fix up the building, which was constructed in 1953, rather than tear it down.
“I guess my best memory from there would have been when we first opened Scotties — when we converted what used to be the Ocean Port Pub into Scotties Liquor Store,” he recalled.
“I felt like I was making some positive changes in town.”
Prior to McQuade’s tenure, the building housed the Ocean Port Hotel and its associated pub.
McQuade said he’s relieved with the change in ownership, but that he’ll miss much of the work on his former property.
“I’m going to miss all the great people who worked there,” he said.
“Over the years a lot of great people worked there.”
