Owner of SIP Neighbourhood Pub Brooke Turner on Feb 24, after she secured a building permit for her 106-601 Bruce Ave. location in Harewood, located inside the University Village Mall. (SIP Neighborhood Pub's Facebook page)

By Jordan Davidson

harewood pub

‘Good community meeting place:’ new pub set to open in Harewood

Apr 21, 2023 | 2:12 PM

NANAIMO — New businesses opening in the city’s south end is hoped to be a sign of things to come.

SIP Neighbourhood Pub, located in the University Village area along Bruce Ave., is set to open its doors this summer, joining a flood of new business and development for the Harewood neighbourhood over recent years.

President of the Harewood neighbourhood association Alexis Peterson said outlets like SIP, or others, are “wonderful” additions to the community.

“We were thrilled because that’s actually three new restaurants down in Harewood. We had one doing donairs, one on Japanese food, and now we have a pub. They will have a patio and maybe even some local musicians. So it sounded like a win-win.”

Work is ongoing at the future location of SIP Neighborhood Pub located at 106-601 Bruce Ave., a part of the University Village Mall. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Mention of Harewood can sometimes bring eye-rolls and links to petty and property crime, however substantial development both from Council and the business community is beginning to turn its reputation.

Peterson said having a pub close by is a welcomed replacement for the former Nanaimo Arms on Eighth St., which closed its doors almost a decade ago.

“We thought it looked very attractive, really liked the patio idea, that’s one thing the Harewood Arms didn’t have. It will be a good community meeting place too.”

To complement business development centred around the growing University area of south Nanaimo, several infrastructure and housing initiatives have taken shape.

The Te’Tuxwtun affordable housing project, upgraded traffic flow and safety improvements along Bruce Ave, along with other utility upgrades and road repaving are all making the area more accessible and inviting.

Peterson said it’s great to see the neighbourhood expanding into lots of different types of businesses.

“One of the things that Harewood really suffers from is not enough things like that. We don’t have a community centre, we don’t have a health centre. We have a dental clinic, but we don’t have a bank. We’re missing some of those essential pieces they have elsewhere, and going out to eat has certainly been one of those things.”

SIP is expecting to open its doors in late June or early July.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow