Love of scotch, hometown turns vacant building into bar

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INGERSOLL– What’s now the title of a bar set to open downtown right here subsequent week is rooted in a digital assembly between pals attempting to remain linked throughout a COVID-19 lockdown.

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5 years in the past when the virus was circulating and Simon Savard, 33, and Scott Van Schyndel, 34, had been unable to satisfy in particular person with their pals, they moved their hangouts on-line. Quick ahead to now, and the title of these on-line meetups is written on a storefront alongside Ingersoll’s principal strip: the Scotch and Ponder.

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“The concept was 5 guys get collectively, get three bottles every that we decide, and we break up them 5 methods in little pattern bottles (and) get all of them shipped out nonetheless we needed to do it,” Savard stated of the 2020 Zoom meet-ups.

“We’d speak, no matter’s happening round that point, and that’s the place the ponder got here from . . . we did a scotch and a ponder. And Scott coined the title in some unspecified time in the future. And we had been all like: “Yep, that’s what we’re going to name it.’”

The Scotch and Ponder will open its doorways as an precise in-person institution with a public grand opening set for Feb. 12.

It’s not a sports activities bar and is meant to be totally different, Van Schyndel stated. The pair desires to supply distinctive drinks unavailable elsewhere whereas creating a definite environment, he stated.

“We don’t have TVs, we don’t serve home beers,” Van Schyndel stated. “It’s craft or premium imports . . . issues like that, stuff that’s not available at a number of the native institutions.”

With no cooking on-site however a mandate to serve meals with alcohol, Savard and Van Schyndel are offering edible choices akin to charcuterie, cheeses, antipasti and olives, however they’re additionally hoping to collaborate with native eateries to doubtlessly host specialised events like a wing night time and chocolate tastings.

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As said within the signal out entrance, it’ll supply a wide array of scotches. The inventory is at about 30, Savard stated, however the goal is to develop the gathering “shortly,” additionally noting an intention to host scotch tastings for patrons.

Van Schyndel stated diversifying the cocktail menu can also be a aim to “present that as a singular form of worth.”

Savard and Van Schyndel bought the vacant downtown Ingersoll constructing at 169 Thames St. S. in January 2021. On the time, a bar wasn’t essentially of their plans.

“(We) bought bored with seeing boarded up buildings on the road, and needed to do one thing actually particular, and one thing that may deliver individuals to the downtown,” Van Schyndel stated.

Scotch and Ponder’s opening coincides with an initiative by Ingersoll – a rising Oxford County city of about 14,000 – to boost its downtown core. The group is within the midst of a downtown enhancement plan, designed to “strengthen the way forward for the downtown core,” officers stated beforehand.

“The city means lots, and we needed to be a part of the revitalization of downtown,” Van Schyndel stated.

[email protected]

@BrianWatLFPress

The Native Journalism Initiative is funded by the Authorities of Canada

SCOTCH AND PONDER

When: Grand opening on Feb 12.

The place: 169 Thames St. S. in Ingersoll.

Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays from 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays from 2 p.m. to midnight; Sundays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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