Young Entrepreneur Series: Bringing local brew to Kelowna nightlife

You might know BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery as one of Kelowna’s newest hot spots, and although it’s Kyle Nixon’s first solo venture, he was basically born into business.

Nixon’s parents opened up their first bar up at Big White in the early '80s and went on to build and own the Hotel Eldorado.

"My first memories are of picking up quarters off my dad's bars,” he said.

When he was old enough, he started working as a janitor at the hotel, worked up to being a dishwasher and finished off as the director of food and beverage and partner.

Two years ago, Nixon’s family decided to sell the Eldorado. His siblings and parents went to do their own things but Nixon couldn't get out of the industry. When he and his wife Carolyn decided to start a business, he took nine of his managers with him.

"When we left the Eldorado in June of 2014, we all kind of wanted to do the project together,” he said.

One year later, they opened BNA.

Since it’s launch, the restaurant has taken off. Nixon and his wife were both born in Kelowna and he said the local aspect of their business has played a huge role in the success.

"Our first year, not a lot of tourists even knew who we were so our first year was all locals, which I'm so grateful for,” Nixon said.

On any Friday or Saturday night, you can expect to see a full bar at BNA. For this, Nixon considers himself lucky.

“My first three months here, I lost my voice because I couldn't stop thanking people,” he said. “I don't take one customer for granted.

“I feel like Kelowna is letting my wife and I and our team live out our dream.”

Certain nights in the winter he said they make hot chocolate and take it out to people in line.

“We just feel so grateful that we started this business and somebody would actually wait in line in the cold to come in here.”

BNA’s 1250 Ellis street location was built in 1919 by the British North America Tobacco company. It went on to be a cannery and finally an audio-visual company.

When Nixon took over, he said his main goal was not to mess it up.

"We had these beautiful beams, all this old brick and these high ceilings,” Nixon said. “So really, what we try to do, is take all the measures possible to keep it restored.

“We tried to put as many touches that made you feel like it was 100-year-old building.”

Besides the epic layout, BNA is also a restaurant that brews their own beer, a soft spot for Nixon.

If you’re stepping into the bar for the first time, Nixon has a few recommendations.

For people who usually drink Molson Canadian light lager, he suggest BNA’s Pancho.

If you are into the craft beer scene, he advises you try their Earl. The west coast pale ale with cold infused local earl grey tea is their most popular beer.

Despite Nixon’s love of beer, he said they don’t shun non-beer drinkers. They offer a long wine list, a cocktail program and an artfully designed menu.

When it comes to food, Nixon couldn’t narrow it down to less than four recommendations including the spicy prawns, mushrooms on toast, steamed pork bun and chicken parmesan with homemade gnocchi.

Besides food and a brewery, BNA also offers a tasting room with growler fills kegging (for restaurants and bars). Their beer can be found in 55 restaurants and bars in the Okanagan and some places at Big White.

The both elegant and hip bar even offers bocce ball and shuffleboard to keep kids (and antsy grown-ups) busy.

"I think there's a little bit of everything for every body.”