When entrepreneur Kevin Day’s vision of opening a restaurant came to fruition, naming it was the easy part. “My son’s middle name is Ellis, my paternal grandmother’s maiden name is Ellis, and when she immigrated to the United States, her point of entry was Ellis Island,” notes Kevin. With that rich family history, TheEllis Bar & Restaurant opened its doors in June 2017 in the heart of Kitsilano.
Kevin, who grew up just outside of Seattle, moved to Vancouver in 2012. With a strong background in the craft beer industry, he initially toyed with the idea of opening a brewery, but soon decided on a restaurant instead. “My wife Chelsea was in the restaurant business for many years and through her I became more interested in the industry,” explains Kevin.
Kevin has travelled extensively – and has visited his share of pubs – so he knew exactly what his vision was for The Ellis Bar & Restaurant. “I wanted to take a fresh approach on pub fare, while offering a welcoming place where locals and visitors can come, hang out and enjoy great food and drinks,” he says.
