– by Doreen Marion Gee –
This is the fourth in a six-part series of profiles on some of the Saanich Peninsula’s wonderful restaurants and pubs.
Just like those glorious old winding sea sagas of rumrunners along the coast of Sidney, the legacy of the Rumrunner Pub and Restaurant boldly extends back in time. One of the oldest eating establishments in Sidney, the restaurant is a fixture on the Peninsula. Over the years, The Rumrunner has forged a solid reputation as a relaxing, comfortable place to eat, with superb food and caring service. And it has proven its worth as a good community partner and friend. The Pub and Restaurant has been a reliable port-of-call for many generations of people. Ever since it dropped anchor in 1990, its presence here has enhanced this community and helped make it a first-class travel destination and a special place to call home.
This June marked 25 years of a thriving waterfront restaurant for owners Bill and Jane Singer. Their boat has weathered a lot of rough weather in the food service industry, such as the recession and changes in liquor laws, but The Rumrunner has always emerged more seaworthy than ever before. The Singers have kept afloat by steering a steady course of providing consistently excellent food. Bill Singer: “We serve fresh wholesome food. Good food at a fair price became one of my trademarks.” According to Bill, they bring in high-quality local food and buy the best from elsewhere. Almost everything is made from scratch. Their burgers are all pure Angus beef: “no fillers here!” TripAdvisor reviews show appreciation for the high-quality food. Happy customers comment that “The halibut and chips is the best we’ve had … ever!” and “Pub fare food done to perfection.” Travellers state that coming to the Rumrunner Pub and Restaurant has become a “must-do tradition,” an eagerly-anticipated oasis on their journey. Locals rave about the “consistently great” food and the popularity of the seaside eatery.
Savvy captains, the Singers know that treating customers well is what keeps their enterprise on an even keel. Bill wants his patrons to know that they are important to him and his staff. Simple gratitude underscores the success of The Rumrunner: “It is the customers who pay our wages. I need them more than they need me. Every businessman should be thankful to the people who want to walk through his doors and buy his products. That mentality will take people through the tough times!” The musings of satisfied customers show that they deeply appreciate the gold star service at the Singers’ eatery. One patron gushes: “I was out for a walk and decided to drop in and wow!!!!!!!! I really hope the manager knows how excellent this girl (the female server) is because I can guarantee she will be keeping a whole lot of customers coming back including myself!!!” Another citizen review: “The service was excellent even when the place filled up with patrons.” (TripAdvisor.)
Being good community partners and citizens keeps them in a strong wind as the Singers sail towards a sunny horizon. They are a generous local communty partner: Bill and Jane donate gift certificates to local charitable events and organizations every year and they won an award for being one of the first wheelchair accessible venues. The solid Rumrunner legacy is built on long-term caring relationships in the community. The Singer family and their treasured pub and restaurant play a special and valuable role in the lives of local citizens, from past to present. They hold memorial services at their establishment for families of patrons who stayed with them for many years – people who laughed, loved and revelled in the food and ocean view for decades and now finally rest their heads in a special service at their favorite hideaway by the sea.
The Rumrunner Pub and Restaurant is a testament to the staying power of upholding the values of a quality product, treating people well and being a good neighbour. Their legacy has earned them “fair winds and following seas.”
Contact: www.rumrunnerpub.ca.
