I didn’t play hockey growing up, but that doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to the reputation of Joe Sakic. A living legend for his ability to lead, not all through talk, but through action. The guy just did the things that needed to be done.
I don’t know if Tim Dwyer sits up late at night reading about Mr. Sakic, emulating his own professional accolades after the Hall of Famer, but he sure seems to take a few cues from his playbook; he just does what he says he’s going to do – and the Owen Sound waterfront is benefitting from his work ethic and creativity as an entrepreneur and owner of The Launch, a growing, bustling, inventive patio space situated at the west side boat launch. What was once a sleepy brick outpost in a forgotten corner of town is now a hopping bar, pop-up restaurant host, kayak rental outfitter, and music venue. Say what?
“When we started this, I had never worked in a kitchen,” says TIm, sitting in front of his space in mid-May, a week before the season opening. “Didn’t know what we needed. Just started doing it; mess something up, fix it. Do the next thing better.”
“We grew. We grew fast”
The Launch sits near the Scenic City’s iconic and operational grain elevators, across the harbour from where imposing Great Lakes freighters moor, where the Chi Cheemaun calls home in the winter months, and where thousands of boaters and anglers access Owen Sound Bay, a deep sound known for its sport fishing, crystal clear waters, and recreational opportunities. In the past, if you weren’t launching a boat or looking to buy live bait from a vending machine, you wouldn’t have come down this road. Now, it’s gaining a reputation as a premiere destination for locals, seasonal visitors, foodies, fishermen, and music lovers alike.
The good news is, it’s growing again due to popular demand. This year, expect an enlarged patio space that will host 75 chairs – that’s 3X as many as last season – a full cocktail bar, more food options, and a new green space for lounging.
“We grew. We grew fast,” laughs Tim. “We needed to expand our production so we tried to think creatively how to use this very oddly shaped envelope of land. We’re taking what works and expanding on it… It’s meant to be something for everyone. It’s also meant to be special and unique to this place. For two decades it’s just been a spot where you can get worms and pay your boat launch fees. Clean a fish if you were so fortunate.”
Aside from its larger footprint, The Launch is also evolving its food offerings with more wood fired pizza, sandwiches, tapas, and light, fresh fare. Additional pop-ups, visiting local chefs, and food trucks are also in the works. The idea is to be open to whatever comes forward and be open to the possibility of its success. Glass half-full kinda stuff.
“Someone might come to us tomorrow and say, ‘I make a killer jerk chicken, and I can make this happen for you,’ and we are open to doing that. And for that day, it’s their kitchen. Pop-up’s aren’t something that we are trying to nickel and dime – they’re something that we are trying to make really damn cool.”
The number one challenge for Tim and his partner and co-owner of the Launch, Vita, was how to intentionally be better than they needed to be. That ideology forged their core principles of cocktail development, restaurant menu development, and experience development. The result is pizza made in-house. Dough made in-house. A fresh menu of things that taste great.
Now, it’s becoming a seasonal Great Lake community hub that’s all about enjoying the sunshine and redefining forgotten spaces, seven days per week. You could argue the ambiguity of the place and its off-the-beaten-path location is its biggest advantage. It hasn’t been anything, so it’s under no obligation to remain as something.
“More music, more people, more drinks, more sunshine. All good things,” says Tim. “We have yoga classes. There is a Dragon Boat Club that launches from here every Tuesday that is happy to take drop-ins. We’ve got cycling groups that leave from here. We’ve got motorcycle events, concerts, and we’re working hard to not be pigeonholed as any one thing.”
We take a walk around the property. Tim points to new features and explains further plans for next season and beyond. The guy just doesn’t stop, and I love that.
“It’s fun down here,” he says. “You’re having a fantastic crafted, shaken cocktail, while at the same time on the same property, a fisherman is gutting a fish. There’s a charm in that. It’s quintessential Owen Sound; great things with dirt under its fingernails.”
Hell yeah.
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You can learn more about The Launch by visiting its website, thelaunchos.ca, and social channels @the.launch.os
Words by Nelson Phillips
Photos supplied by Tim Dwyer
