A long-rumoured deal between a pair of popular spots in the Mission has finally been made official.
Barn Owl Brewing announced this morning that it has acquired the neighbouring It’s A Bakery in a move that appears to be a big win-win for both sides.
“When the owners of It's A Bakery decided they wanted to focus their attention on their Lakeview Heights store and production facility, they offered us the opportunity to continue and enhance what they started four years ago in the Lower Mission,” explained a social media post from Barn Owl.
The deal became official on Thursday.
Barn Owl has retained the bakery’s staff and already hired an interim manager for the business.
While the brewery doesn’t plan on making significant changes to the bakery, there will be a couple things that look different in the coming weeks and months.
For one, the bakery will now be open on Mondays. Barn Owl also hinted at a potential name change in the near future. But in the grand scheme of things, operations will remain the same.
“Be assured that the treasure that the Nierfeld family built isn't going anywhere,” Barn Owl’s post said. “(We) intend to offer the same or similar coffee and baked goods you have come to love.”
A potential deal between the brewery and bakery first came to light in October when Barn Owl filed an application with the City of Kelowna as “a step of due diligence to see what might be possible.”
Owners of both businesses came forward to say there had been talks about a potential “mutually-beneficial transaction,” but no one was trying to force anyone out.
Barn Owl’s owners assured residents that even in the event of an acquisition, the bakery will remain part of the historic Surtees Barn and they appear to be dead set on keeping that promise.
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