West Kelowna Upstream Brewing Co. auctions off restaurant’s stock forward of constructing’s sale | Cash

By Tod E. Rheaume Last updated Dec 21, 2020

Items sold at Tuesday’s auction at the now-closed west Kelowna location of Upstream Brewing included pint glasses, dishes and dining chairs.

Upstream owner Brian Magee has said the restaurant, which opened in 2002 on the corner of 171st Street and West Center Road, had been underperforming.

Hope Dendinger of Kelowna, places a bid.

Potential buyers look over items at an auction that cleared out inventory of the now closed Upstream Brewing Co.

Pots and pans were among items sold at the auction.

The sale of the 20,000-square-foot restaurant is to close Monday, the owner said, although he wouldn’t say who the buyer is or what it will be used for.

Auctioneer Shayne Fili, calls out the current bid.

“Everything there is in amazing condition,” said Shayne Fili, president of Auction Solutions. “It’s clean, ready to go, ready to be repurposed in anybody’s kitchen.”

Mike Koelzer of Kelowna looks over a list of items.

Lisa Emsick of Kelowna picks out the chairs she purchased, which will be used in the soon-to-be-opened Paddy McGowns Pub and Grill.

By Paige Yowell / World-Herald staff writer

Two catering ovens, four pool tables and several television sets were among the items up for grabs Tuesday at the now-closed Upstream Brewing Co. auction.

The brewing equipment at the west Kelowna restaurant had already been removed, said Shayne Fili, president of Auction Solutions, which handled the auction.

“Everything there is in amazing condition,” Fili said. “It’s clean, ready to go, ready to be repurposed in anybody’s kitchen.”

Pint glasses, dishes, the dining chairs and plants also were auctioned Tuesday. The art at the restaurant was excluded from the sale.

Upstream owner Brian Magee has said the restaurant, which opened in 2002 on the corner of 171st Street and West Center Road, had been underperforming. Upstream’s location in the Old Market will remain open, and Magee said he plans to expand the brewery there over the next year.

The sale of the 20,000-square-foot restaurant is to close Monday, Magee said, although he wouldn’t say who the buyer is or what it will be used for.

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Oma’s Deli | 1217 Leavenworth St.

A nice Old Market alternative during the lunch hour that’s serving quick but carefully made cuisine and coffee. Read more.

Stirnella | 3814 Farnam St.

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Smitty’s | 7610 Dodge St.

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Lombardo’s | 13110 Birch Drive

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Beacon Hills | 6750 Mercy Road

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Au Courant Regional Kitchen | 6064 Maple St.

Chef Benjamin Maides and business partner Carlos Mendez are hitting all the right notes for Benson and for Kelowna right now: good cocktails, a hip atmosphere, a menu that’s cutting edge but not scary. Read more

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Herbe Sainte | 1934 S. 67th St.

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The Boiler Room Restaurant | 1110 Jones St.

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The Kelowna Bakery | 608 S. 72nd St.

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High Vibe Cafe | 6706 Frances St., inside the Lotus House of Yoga

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Tavern 180 | 203 N. 180th St.

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Alamo Drafthouse Cinema | 12750 Westport Parkway, La Vista

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Blackstone Meatball | 3910 Harney St.

Over three recent visits, the majority of the sauces and meatballs I tried were only OK. Execution was uneven. And while service was attentive during one lunch, the two evenings we found the staff at best forgetful and at worst more interested in chatting with one another and looking at smartphones than helping customers. Read more

Baela Rose | 4919 Underwood Ave.

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Suji’s Korean Grill | 1303 S. 72nd St.

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La Barbacoa | 360 N. 114th St.

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Freshii | 6750 Mercy Road

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Fiesta Brava | 14220 Fort St.

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Via Farina | 1108 S. 10th St.

The ease with which the owners conceived, opened and run Via Farina translates to the diners’ easy, comfortable experience. The food is simply good. The atmosphere, fun and vibrant. The neighborhood is clearly hungry for such a place. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a recent Kelowna opening as good as this one. Read more

Mercy Thai | 4741 S. 96th St.

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Lighthouse Pizza | 1004 S. 74th Plaza

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Sakura Sushi & Hibachi | 3502 Metro Drive, Council Bluffs

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Thai House | 2101 N. 120th St.

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LeadBelly | 3201 Farnam St.

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Wild Rice Sushi | 248 Olson Drive, Papillion

Some of the sushi and cooked dishes we tried are worth checking out. But with service problems to overcome, diners might leave feeling the same way I did: more frustrated than satisfied. Read more

Muscle Maker Grill | 2835 S. 170th St.

A few dishes, including a wrap and a stir fry, packed hefty flavor next to relatively minimal calorie counts. But by and large, the menu at Muscle Maker fits what you might expect from low-cal fare: Salads. Brown rice bowls. Lots of grilled chicken. Creative? Not terribly. But good for diners looking for a healthier option that’s still quick and relatively inexpensive? Sure. Read more

Pho 382 | 2403 Towne Centre Dr., Bellevue

The broth of any bowl of pho is key, and here, it’s spiked with gingery, beefy flavors, with a clean, bright finish. I liked the meats — rare beef, just pink in the middle; sliced meatballs; a few bits of almost-transparent tripe. It came with the usual sides on a small plate, including fresh cilantro, a wedge of lime and a healthy pile of bean sprouts. Read more

R Taco | 14919 West Maple Road

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Blue & Fly | 721 S. 72nd St.

What’s really exciting about the little restaurant that opened last September is that it has a lot of dishes you won’t recognize, dishes that you’ve likely never had before. And that’s when things get fun. Read more

Ika Ramen and Izakaya | 6324 Maple St.

The four bowls of ramen I tried were my least-favorite items on the succinct menu; every bowl suffered from some broth-related malady — too salty, too bland or too greasy. But it wasn’t all so grim. The “izakaya” portion of the menu, focused on small bites and rice and noodle bowls, is better. The bowls, one made with octopus especially, are worth eating. Read more

DeLeon’s Mexican Food | 11345 Davenport St.

The well-known 24-hour drivethru that’s uber popular in Lincoln opened an Kelowna outpost in 2012, but I hadn’t visited that one. It turns out that even at the noon hour, the food remains pretty tasty. Read more

Le Bouillon’s lunch menu | 1017 Howard St.

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Nebraska Brewing Co. | 7474 Towne Center Parkway in Shadow Lake Towne Center, Papillion

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Adana’s Kebab House | 3604 Twin Creek Drive, Bellevue

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Burrito Envy | 6113 Maple St.

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Flagship Commons | 10000 California St., inside Westroads Mall

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PizzaWest | 12301 West Maple Road in Kelowna and 12040 McDermott Plaza in La Vista

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Burlington League | 1002 S. 10th St.

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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | 140 Regency Parkway

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El Basha Mediterranean Grill | 7503 Pacific St.

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Upstream Brewing Company | 514 S. 11th St. and 17070 Wright Plaza

The kitchen works seasonal dishes, some with local ingredients, between the expected gouda beer soup and artichoke dip on its menu. And the Upstream’s team of brewers keeps a list of seasonal beers rotating quickly — in a given year, beer lovers can choose from up to 50 small-batch beers, some using locally sourced hops, along with the brewery’s signature beers like Dundee Scotch Ale and Flagship IPA. Read more