Flora Hall

Flora Hall was a newcomer to Doors Open this year, and for good reason, as it only opened last fall. This building started out its life in the 1920s as an electrical appliance repair workshop, this at a time when you sent such items for repairs instead of buying something new. It later became an auto shop, and for years stood empty and unused. A new use for it was found as a group organized to restore it and make use of it as a brew pub. It takes its name from the street it is on- Flora Street in Centretown, just off Bank Street. 

The interior preserves the industrial feel of the building's earlier use but adds in a lot of customized woodwork and other details, transforming it into a welcoming pub.

While I was in, the brewery side of things was filled with visitors. One of the staff members was giving a talk about the operations inside.

The pub is spread out over two floors, with a bar on each. This staircase leads to the upper floor.

I was chatting with one of the staffers about the process of opening this place up- I had seen the project's progress while occasionally passing by. He mentioned the siding on this staircase, commonly referred to as banker's mesh, and noted that every joint you see here is an individual weld. Imagine how long that takes.

Here we have views from above.

This is the upper bar area. Aside from being a craft brewery, Flora Hall also has a menu if you're coming in for a bite to eat.

This view looks down the stairs from above.

And I finish with the other bar on the ground level, a U shape that fits the space well.