On any given night in downtown Nanaimo, the hum of conversation, clink of pints and glow of 14 TVs lit up with sports highlights define the atmosphere at Old City Station Pub. With a reputation for drawing big crowds for everything from hockey playoffs to wing nights, this bustling venue has become the go-to gathering place for locals of all ages.
Chad Raill, one of the regulars, has been coming for 15 years. For him, the Nanaimo mainstay is more than just a watering hole. He refers to it as his “office away from home.”
A big-time sports fan, Raill is often the one suggesting what should play on the TVs, whether it’s hockey, golf or the NFL. He even organizes the pub’s football pool.
At the helm of Old City Station Pub is general manager Teagan Olmstead, who started as a server in 2021. “It’s that classic restaurant that’s like a family,” she says.
The space was originally part of the historic Nanaimo Daily Free Press building. In the 1990s, it became a nightclub known as the Press Room, and eventually evolved into the multi-purpose pub it is today.
“I’ve heard that the printing presses are still under the cement in the floor,” says Olmstead, “but I have no idea if that’s true.”
What is undeniable is the pub’s versatility. “It’s so many different things,” Olmstead explains. “It is a sports bar, but it’s also a nightclub on the weekends and we’re getting into live music. It’s got a little bit of something for everybody.”
For big sporting events, Old City Station is jammed with fans. When the Vancouver Canucks were in the playoffs last year, every table was full and people were on the stairs watching. Beyond the major leagues, there’s a growing interest in supporting local teams as well. Old City Station recently showed the finals of the Nanaimo Clippers, a junior hockey team, and that got a little bit of traction, says Olmstead.
The vibe at Old City Station shifts with the hour on the clock and day of the week. Weekdays generally belong to the regulars – loyal locals who know their favourite seat and their go-to pint. Come Wednesday for wing night and the energy picks up as a younger crowd in their 20s and 30s starts to roll in. By Friday and Saturday, the place transforms into a full-blown nightclub, packed with a lively, mostly 20-something crowd.
The versatility extends to the Green Olive, a new event space launched last year. It started as a staff room, then a storage room. Now it’s a flexible venue used for comedy nights, private bookings, murder mystery parties, trivia nights and more. “It’s taken off incredibly this year just from word of mouth,” Olmstead says.
Despite the sports focus at Old City Station, food is far from an afterthought. With 24 taps and 24 wing flavours, the pub takes its kitchen just as seriously as its game-day coverage.
“The wings are definitely our most popular item,” says Olmstead. “Blue cheese buffalo is the top seller, but people love the creamy jalapeño and pineapple curry too.”
Thanks to a new head chef and a recent kitchen overhaul, the menu has leveled up in a big way. “Our food is incredible,” she says. “We’re still very focused on quality while staying price-conscious.”
Raill comes by often with buddies, but says he’s comfortable dropping in by himself because he knows he’ll run into someone he knows. “Before you know it, there’s 15 people around the bar and you’re just having the time of your life,” he says.
