by Rupert Harrison

The building in which Peppi’s is
located, and several small cottages to the
rear, were built for and owned by the
Misses Jessie and Helen Stevenson in
1912. The ladies were members of a
Highland Scottish family, who, a year or
so earlier with other family members,

PEPPVS
OTT Darnton Be SSS

Peppi’s Past, Present and Future

from the beach in front of the tearoom
provided temporary moorage.

In 1912 the municipality of West Van-
couver had been incorporated and had
taken over a private passenger ferry ser-
vice operating between the eastern part
of the municipality and Vancouver Har-
bour. And in 1914, in order to extend
this service to the residents of this

a

HSS

Local artist Dorothy Forster’s rendering of “Peppi’s First ‘Annual Festival of ‘Ligh, December 1991.

had come to live in this Dundarave area
of pre-Wese Vancouver. And in respect
of their ancestry they named this small!
complex of buildings “The Clachan’, a
Highland word for a hamlet or village
inn. The main building, a one storey
structure with flat roof deck, was con-
structed as a restaurant/tearoom mainly
for visitors occupying the cottages, or
others who stopped by as they sailed past
in their pleasure boats. A line of narrow
decked floats which extended seaward

westerly part, the concrete pier was built
to provide a safe landing. This resulted
in the road-end at this point becoming
a focal point for residents and visitors
and, indirectly, a benefit to The Clachan
tearoom.

Shortly after the pier was compieted,
a second storey to the main building of
The Clachan, with twin gabled dormers,
as seen to-day, was added to provide
several rooms for summer over-night or

\splay suite now open

WEST VANCOUVER'S PREMIERE
RIVERFRONT RESIDENCES ARE
NOW PROUDLY DISPLAYING THEIR
FULLY FURNISHED SHOW SUITES.

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THEPJESTROYAL

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PARK ROYAL SOUTH
CALL ANSON REALTY LTD. 922-6063
OPEN ONE TO FIVE DAILY
{closed Friday)

PROUDLY BUILT BY THE ViAM GROUP

weekend guests. The Stevenson sisters
managed the tearoom with tables set in
the large lounge and, in summer, on the
wide verandah across the front (now in-
corporated within the dining area).

In the lounge was a large open
fireplace on the north wall and it was
a favorite location for meetings of local
organizations. In fact, an annual event
at The Clachan was the local Scottish
Society’s Hogmanay or New Year’s Eve
dance.

The two ladies continued to manage,
but not operate, The Clachan and ac-
cessory buildings into the late 1930s by
which time Miss Jessie was in her early
eighties and Miss Helen her late seven-
ties. Sadly, both passed away within a
year of each other between October,
1940 and November, 1941.

In 1944, as the first phase in
establishing a beach park for the area
and to preserve one of the truly heritage
buildings in che community, the property
was purchased by the municipality from
the party who had acquired it following
the death of the original owners. Subse-
quently the premises were operated on
a lease basis, first under the name of
“The Breakers”, in recognition of the
waves breaking on the nearby shore;
then as “St. Mawes”, named after a town
in Cornwall, England, from whence the
next operators had come. And finally, in
1964, as “Peppi’s” by the Verdicchio fami-
ly whose service and cuisine made the
name and restaurant a favorite
throughout Greater Vancouver for
residents and tourists.

In April, 1991, Klaus Fuerniss and
partners bought Peppi’s and heralded a
new era for the popular landmark
restaurant. Menu refinements bring Pep-
pi’s dishes in step with healthful

Horseshoe Bay
Ferry Terminal

“PEPPY |

; OND Dumndsave Beade_— “Winner served from 5

150- 25th Street, West Vancouver, BC..

lifestyles. Imaginative promotions and
special events held throughout the year
make new friends for Penpi’s and West
Vancouver.

In keeping with the many positive
changes made in the Dundarave water-
front area, the Peppi’s management team
envisions a strengthened role for the
popular restaurant within the greater
community of West Vancouver as the
years progress.

The Clachan, on n the waterfront at
25th Street, 1912

25th Street, Dundsrave from the waterfront
looking North, 1926.

Effective’ May 14th

‘Mon “Wed: 11:30 am-10 pm:
‘Thurs-Sat. 11:30 am-midnight

“Sun. 10:30 am-10 pm:
3 pm)

© Reservations 922-1414 -