Bogey’s Pub & Pizza – a mainstay of the hospitality industry in Airdrie – recently celebrated its 20th year of operations with a community birthday bash featuring cold brews, live entertainment and savoury pub food on Nov. 12.
According to the Woodside-area pub’s promotion manager Tammy Cotton, the pub is akin to Airdrie’s own version of the TV show “Cheers” – a familiar place where regulars share their lives while drinking at the bar “where everybody knows your name.”
The pub is owned by Tammy’s husband Warren Cotton and partners, brothers Duane and Lyle Kent. They took over ownership from their father and pub founder Dave Kent, who has since stepped back from running the operation.
“Dave is [enjoying retirement] now so he’s kind of pulling back and letting my husband and his two sons take the reins,” Cotton said of the original founder's involvement.
The pub manager said her husband Warren has been a member of the team since Bogey’s beginning, and was originally brought in as a bar manager to get the business up and running 20 years ago.
“Twenty years later, he is now an owner and is still running the place – he's kind of the main guy,” she said.
According to Cotton, the pub’s official anniversary was back in July of this year, but the birthday bash held this month featured a full day of entertainment to commemorate the milestone.
On Nov. 12, the pub opened its doors to the public at 10 a.m. and began birthday festivities at 2 p.m. in partnership with Andy LePage’s DJ company Jazzed Up Events (with whom the pub has had a working relationship for nearly two decades.) During the birthday bash, LePage hosted his popular karaoke and trivia show, and entertained guests with bingo and music throughout the day.
Thereafter, the Greg Vardy Band – a local cover band performing country and rock classics – put on a show at the venue from 8 p.m. to midnight.
“We’re not exactly set up for a band, but we’re like, ‘Heck, we’re going to try it anyway,’” Cotton said.
According to Cotton, the bar did not charge a cover fee and patrons were encouraged to come by and enjoy food and drink specials on the pub’s special day. A percentage of the proceeds were donated to the Airdrie Food Bank.
Cotton said Bogey’s often donates to certain charitable causes around Airdrie and has sponsored local sports teams and tournaments in the past.
Bogey’s Pub has also collaborated with and donated to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 288 and Airdrie Bethany Care Centre in years prior.
“On Remembrance Day [a few years ago] we donated 20 per cent of our profits that day to the [Legion],” she said.
The pub has also participated in annual turkey drives and the Airdrie Lioness’ (now Airdrie 1st Club) holiday hamper program each year.
She said the pub’s desire to support local businesses and organizations spilled over to an extensive renovation project in 2020. The Cottons searched for local contractors to complete the work, and while they may have had to outsource a few jobs, for the most part, they always looked locally to get the job done.
“It was top to bottom – everything from our ceiling tiles to our floors. The bathrooms were re-done, we have new tables, chairs and a new bar. Everything you can think of has a new look including 23 HD TVs and 11 VLTs.
“We did a total makeover of the bar and also gave Woodside Pizza, our takeout side, a fresh new look.”
Like other restaurants and bars across Airdrie and the province, Bogey’s was mandated to close in mid-March 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19. Once they were shut down, Cotton said the pub’s ownership decided it was an ideal time to complete some much-needed upgrades.
“We were originally just going to do little things like replace the flooring and ceiling, but when we were shut down, we thought, ‘Let’s just do a makeover,’” Cotton said. “It was time.”
In its 20 years of operation, the pub has gone from operating in one bay in the Canal strip mall and boasting a handful of staff to now taking over three bays in the same strip mall (including a pizza and takeout delivery kiosk) and employing more than a dozen staff members.
According to Cotton, Bogey’s Pub made a comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic, which she added had a negative effect on many businesses in the industry.
“During the pandemic, it was very tough – we had to lay off all of our staff. There wasn’t really anyone that we kept on except for our kitchen manager and a few of the kitchen staff because we were still able to run takeout and delivery,” Cotton recalled.
She added the pub’s 2020 renos helped the establishment stay in the public’s mind during the forced closure.
“We had a lot of anticipation and excitement of us reopening during this pandemic,” Cotton said. “So that was great business since we’ve been able to reopen – business has been thriving for sure.”
Cotton reiterated Bogey’s Pub is like the “Cheers” of Airdrie and there are still faces she and her husband recall seeing 20 years ago who are still regulars.
She believes the pub has stood the test of time thanks to its patrons and staff.
“Twenty years ago, Airdrie only had 15,000 people – we’ve managed to keep going after that much development in Airdrie [thanks to the customers and staff],” Cotton said.
