New Year's Eve on Dec. 31 will be the last call for patrons of the Foggy Dew pub in Coquitlam as the establishment popular with SFU students and other locals closes at the end of the night.
Tickets for the New Year's Eve bash are selling like hot cakes, said Rafael Canoa, a supervisor, who said a lot of people will drop by to say good bye.
According to a sign inside the lobby, the pub will be closed Jan. 1-15 and will reopen under new management Jan. 16.
It will be taken over by the Executive Plaza Hotel, which owns the spacious pub decked out in warm wood with traditional Irish pub details. However, it's not yet known what the plans are for the space and calls to the Executive Inn was not immediately returned.
"It's going to be a sad last shift," said Canoa, who worked for the Foggy Dew for most of the pub's 18 year existence and remembers many highlights from back in the day.
One of biggest celebrities was former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who died in the spring.
The controversial mayor visited the Foggy Dew in February, 2014 while in B.C. for a funeral and Canoa remembers the havoc he caused when he walked into the pub with his security detail.
"It was a challenge to get him from the front door to his seat," Canoa said, recalling how patrons blocked the way in the hopes of getting a photograph of the man.
According to reports at the time, Ford ordered rounds of drinks and stayed past normal closing hours.
However, Canoa said other notable Canadians also dropped by with much less controversy, including Olympic ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser and Canadian soccer captain Christine Sinclair.
The pub has also been used as a movie set for several films, including the TV series The 100.
Approximately 30 staff members currently work at the pub.
"Many of us have been working here so long, we promise to stay in touch," Canoa said.
Most weekends the pub was packed with young people many of whom would line up for over an hour to get in because there was a dance floor and no cover charge.
It's not known whether the Executive Plaza management will keep the same format.
