Riverview's Chocolate River Station to remain in place: owners

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The owners of Holy Whale Brewing say the Chocolate River Station in Riverview will not be torn down to make space for an apartment building, but will remain in place as a beer hall and home to various business.

Jeff Grandy, a co-owner of Holy Whale Brewing, said they recently reached a partnership agreement with building owner Robert Smith to become part owners of the former fire station on Coverdale Road, where they have been operating a beer hall and outdoor patio bar. Grandy said they plan to keep the building in place while developing ways to bring more customers into the building.

“The Chocolate River Station was a property that I fell in love with and saw what the Grandys had done with it and how it was embraced by the community,” said Smith. “It has become a hub of activity in Riverview and a natural gathering place.”

Smith said he became involved with the property when he was with Cordova Realty/Thrive Properties, a company that has built two other apartment buildings in Riverview and proposed a pair of 10-storey buildings on the site. However, Smith said, the feasibility of the project became less likely with inflation and rising costs. Smith said took over the property when he left the company and now wants to rejuvenate it into a tourism and hospitality hub for Riverview. One of the first things to do will be repairs to the wooden deck, where there are a few holes.

“It doesn’t mean there won’t be more development there in the future but I think we will be looking at redevelopment through a lens of keeping that community hub, that natural gathering place that it has become in Riverview,” Smith said.

“I think the residents of Riverview have voiced their opinion that they are supportive of it, ” he added.

“Every time when I go to that patio and see people sitting there and relaxing as the sun is setting, I think it’s unbelievable. I feel we have a real opportunity here and we have to seize on it,” Smith said.

The Chocolate River Station is also home to a Cannabis N.B. retail store, a beauty salon and wellness centre. Grandy said there are some empty spaces available for lease. With its large open hall and patio overlooking the river, the building was often used to host various events and wedding receptions. It also has a large parking lot off Coverdale Road.

Grandy said the Chocolate River Station beer hall makes up a solid third of their business and they hope to expand on it. They are looking at a similar places for inspiration, like the Founder’s Food Hall and Market in Charlottetown, where people can go to shop, eat and enjoy live entertainment.

The Holy Whale beer hall and patio is a popular destination in the summer as patrons can sit outside and sip beer while watching the sun set on the Petitcodiac River. It’s also a spot to see the Tidal Bore twice a day. The patio is part of the Riverfront Trail which runs parallel to Coverdale Road and visitors often stop while riding their bikes along the trail. During the Christmas season, the trees along the trail are filled with colourful lights.

Grandy, along with his brother Peter and partner Ian Hillier, have operated the Holy Whale for several years. Holy Whale Brewing is based in Alma, where the owners transformed an old church into a brewery where they create many different types of beer. They also operate the Holy Bowly, a bowling alley in Riverview where their own beer is served.

The Chocolate River Station has been a landmark on Coverdale Road for more than 60 years. It was originally built in 1961 as fire hall, and extended in 1974, after Riverview became an incorporated town. It also served as the town’s RCMP detachment for many years. The firefighter barracks was on the second floor and they slid down a brass pole to the main floor where the trucks were kept. When Riverview Fire & Rescue moved to its new building in 2005, the old building was renovated into the Chocolate River Station at a cost of $3.5 million. The town contributed $2 million and received $1 million from the federal government through ACOA and $500,000 from the province.

It was meant to be a town-owned business centre, but was criticized for not generating enough revenue. In 2020, the town sold the building to Cordova Developments for $800,000. At the time, Cordova said the building would be torn down to make room for a proposed 10-storey, 150-unit apartment complex called The Current along the waterfront, with underground parking and retail space. The proposed apartment complex would have also integrated the public trail.

Plans for The Current were put on hold in 2022 while another apartment building called The Tides at 230 Coverdale Road next to the Dairy Queen restaurant was constructed.