Ty at Ut Ws i, NUE en iMEaD BU Soe ERS C45 - “Wir Bastin iT ates Uys ar Ty iE Wes Bstsresit CAN ta ia = Eee (aG3 Apa. Bogsorr 28 saat ARTISTS CONCEPTION OF Mary’s Blue Moon Cafe includes a planned addition, which will be completed sometime in the future. The restaurant will re-open in June. MARYS MAY LOOK different now, while it’s being refurbished, but the owners are doing everything possible to make if look as original as possible. The Peninsula landmark was a favorite of airmen stationed at the Pat Bay air training base during the Second World War. When it re-opens, an aviation theme will be caried throughout the restaurant, including dozens of old photographs from airmen who were stationed here. Tar paper on the walls last week will be covered with wood siding, in a manner similar to its original siding. THE ~ Sidney, B. C. V8L 1X7 2 TheReview Wednesday, April 29, 1992 — 18 Mary’s Blue Moon Cafe will be close fo its original condition A Canora Road landmark is being re-opened next month with an aviation theme and a slightly different name. “During the Second World War there was a cafe across the street called the Blue Moon Cafe,” said Sean McNeill, a managing partner in the 80-seat restaurant. “We wanted to change the name somewhat so we settled on Mary’s Blue Moon Cafe.” The new owners, Sean and his father Jack McNeill, are doing everything possible to keep the building close to its original appearance and are incorporating some of Sidney’s heritage adviso- ry committee’s recommendations. The building has been raised about 18 inches and is being completely refurbished, with por- tions of old rotted wood being replaced with similar modern materials. An aviation theme will be car- - ried out throughout the interior and already numerous old photo- graphs, interesting old aircraft parts, some historic propellers, including an old helicopter rotor blade donated by Vancouver Island Helicopters. “We're getting lots of memorabilia, tons of it,” McNeill said. Persons who wish to donate other aviation-related pieces are asked to wait until the restaurant re-opens in June. “Tt’s amazing how many people identify with this place,” McNeill said. “It'll continue in the tradi- tion of fine food and a good meeting place.” The entire original building is still there, although rotted siding i # — ART SUPPLIES had to be torn off and will be replaced with new wood siding, similar in design to the original. The restaurant’s original wood floor is still being used. A renova- tion to add an additional 20 seats is planned for sometime in the future. Recently, Sidney council con- sidered a report from the heritage committee on the ongoing devel- opment. The committee reported con- cerns that the roof finish and signage “might take away the heri- tage value which remains.” It recommended that the roof finish be wood shingle, that the owner do everything possible to match the exterior with the origi- nal finish, that any signage be of ~ original design and be submitted to the committee for input; and that the square louvered vents on the structure be matched by any additional vents. McNeill said that contractors have to follow current building codes during the building’s refur- bishment and the building also has to be acceptable to the mortgage company. Although the committee recom- mendations are accepted, some recommendations are not possible. The existing duroid shingle roof is being matched with new duroid ws shingles, contrary to the heritage committee’s recommendation that wood shingles be used, he said. McNeill has located second- hand wooden-frame multi-pane windows to replace windows in the existing building. “We're making every effort to stick to what they want,” he said. S| Visace Gartery QUALITY CUSTOM FRAMING [i § LOCAL ART PRINTS AND POSTERS 656-3633.