After 27 years, four months and two days, it鈥檚 time for Norm and Karen Jones to move on.
New owner Andrew Farnham of Regina has purchased the establishment and took over on April 1.
鈥淲e were in Moose Jaw for 13 years and moved to Regina just last year and deciding what we were going to do next,鈥� explains Farnham of his plans.
鈥淚 bought this place because I don鈥檛 want to be in the city,鈥� said Farnham 鈥淚 love to be in a small community. I looked at several places before I settled on this one. I like the feel of it.鈥�
鈥淚t had good numbers,鈥� says Farnham 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good business and it鈥檒l do well.鈥�
鈥淣orm鈥檚 Place is an excellent find!鈥� explains Farnham. 鈥淚 like the community feel.鈥�
It was just meant to be. Farnham鈥檚 middle name just happens to be Norman. He鈥檚 keeping the bar named Norm鈥檚 Place. It has a similar atmosphere as the TV show Cheers, where everyone knows your name when you walk through the door.
He is currently living upstairs at Norm鈥檚 Place and not sure of the future plans at the moment. All his energy is focused on running Norm鈥檚 Place. He doesn鈥檛 have plans on changing anything immediately.
鈥淚f it ain鈥檛 broke鈥on鈥檛 fix it,鈥� is his motto.
Down the road he says he has some ideas of different things to do, but you鈥檒l have to wait and see.
鈥淧eople come from a very large radius,鈥� says Andrew, who adds, 鈥淣orm and Karen have done a very good job. Norm鈥檚 Place is the community hub.鈥�
鈥淎ll the staff will be retained,鈥� reassures Andrew. 鈥淚 count on them.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檇 like to update the kitchen as my first project,鈥� Farnham says of his only planned change so far.
Norm鈥檚 Place already has a steady and loyal clientele but he says he鈥檇 also like to attract new customers whether it鈥檚 just stopping in for a bag of ice or making a quick stop for a bite to eat while passing through town.
鈥淧izza is a big thing here鈥�.especially for take-out,鈥� Farnham realizes so a bigger pizza oven is on his mind.
He plans on keeping the theme nights 鈥� poker night, steak night, skins night, etc., but the gears are constantly turning for new ideas.
鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e owned and operated a variety of businesses from a bed and breakfast, a dance studio, had a lot of rental houses, and had a maintenance company that took care of 60-plus properties and also spent 15 years in the oilfield,鈥� he explains.
He鈥檚 lived in at least four of the Canadian provinces throughout his life. When time permits, he loves to travel, whether it鈥檚 by car or motorbike.
Fortunately he says he has the gift of gab so it鈥檚 very easy to get to know people.
Stop in to meet the new owner. He鈥檚 quite the character you鈥檒l never forget.
You may even hear about his homemade pickles stories. Just ask.
Norm and Karen Jones plan to take it easy and enjoy life without having to be anywhere at any particular time. They are thankful to have had such good customer support and good staff over the years. They say they鈥檒l miss the people and some of the special events such as Name that Tune and the golf tournaments. They were a lot of work but also a lot of fun.
鈥淚 shed more than a few tears,鈥� says Norm Jones. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 lie.鈥澛�
