This story is part of a feature that first appeared in print in Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine’s January 2023 issue. Read the entire e-edition here:
Welcome to the Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine’s business column. Revelstoke changes fast, and we’re keeping in stride with the business buzz about town.
Eleven Experience buys Explorer’s Society Hotel and Quartermaster Eatery
Eleven Experience, an experiential travel company that started 11 years ago on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, just purchased their eleventh location at 111 First Street West in Revelstoke, formerly known as the Explorer’s Society Hotel.
Soon to be renamed Eleven Revelstoke Lodge, the family that owns the company purchased the building because they love the intimate vibe of the hotel.
“The family that owns Eleven really loves outdoor activities and everything that Revelstoke has to offer. And so skiing is a big passion of theirs,” says North American Operations Manager Molly Minett. “They also like staying in intimate places, so they started with this company in Crested Butte, Colorado, and it just has grown from there.”
Molly says that among their 11 locations across the globe, Revelstoke is the most urban place they operate.
Right before COVID consumed the world, Eleven Experience purchased Kingfisher Heliskiing, a heli-ski company that formally operated near Nakusp. Together the businesses will operate out of the hotel and provide all-inclusive experiences to customers in the winter. Molly says they will likely operate like a regular hotel during summer.
Nina Frohlicher, Eleven’s Canada General Manager, lives in Revelstoke and says the community can expect to see the same friendly faces staffing the hotel. Any new hires, she says, will be people that live in Revelstoke.
The hotel’s established restaurant, the Quartermaster Eatery, will keep its name and normal operation. The restaurant will be open to the public Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
“Meeting a part of Eleven through our restaurant staff is definitely something that we’re really stoked to be able to offer to the local community,” says Nina.
Nina and Molly welcome the community to come and say hello to the team at Eleven Experience. “We just want to be very open for people to come up and see who we are and not just hear or read about us, but actually come by and connect with us,” says Nina.
Molly echoes her sentiments by saying, “We don’t just want to be partners in the community. We want to be part of it.”
Rize Board Shop moves in with Mountain Made Studio
Trevor Smith, owner of Rize Board Shop, opened his doors in June 2022. Going into his first winter season of sales, he says he opened the shop to provide a level and standard of service, knowledge and support not seen anywhere else in the core snowboard industry.
Hailing from Kamloops originally, Trevor moved to Revelstoke following a 16-year stint in Whistler working in the ski and snowboard industry.
“I was able to gain high-level experience within the boot fitting world as a snowboarder, which is rare, and over many years was able to perfect and create a standard of snowboard boot fitting not found at any other core snowboard shop,” he says.
The shop shares a space with Mountain Made Studio owner Kelly Hutcheson, a stained glass artist. After some light construction this summer, their space is equipped with a fully functional mini-ramp, which adds a unique board shop atmosphere.
Friendly faces you can expect to see working at Rize include Trevor and his staff member Scott Campbell.
“Our Rize philosophy is simply that we are as invested in your enjoyment, comfort and quality of your day on the mountain as you are, so you can always expect the absolute best knowledge, service and support so that you can enjoy your day on the hill to the utmost,” says Trevor.
Seoul Street’s Soft opening
A new Asian-themed pub opened in late December in the former location of the Grizzly Sports bar. The new restaurant Seoul Street is owned by three sisters, Emily, Iris, and Eunice. After renovating the pub, the space looks unrecognizable from its former self.
“We’re three sisters who are helping to create the vision our dad has had for a long time,” says Eunice. “He has always wanted to open a Korean pub where he could sell Korean foods for people to try and enjoy. We’ve been working hard to make one of his dreams come true, which led us to where we are now.”
The sisters say the restaurant is inspired by Seoul, the capital of South Korea and is a Korean-style pub. Their vision is to create a fun atmosphere where people can comfortably hangout.
The restaurant will feature Korean-inspired eats along with authentic Korean food. Seoul Street has cocktails made with Korean liquor and named after popular Korean locations.
“We hope that Seoul Street will become a place where locals and those passing through can come together and make memories that will last.”
Their soft opening took place on December 22, 2022.