At the corner of Quilchena Avenue and Garcia Street in downtown Merritt stands the Adelphi Hotel.

Behind its understated doors and between its historic walls, the hotel’s storied past intersects with the present. Regular patrons hold good-spirited debates while others sip coffee and banter with the bartenders. There’s a familial feel amongst the familiar faces as they collectively reminisce.

“It’s almost like Cheers,” owner Jai Ollek said, and the comparison is undeniable.

Circa 1986. Photo courtesy of the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association

Circa 1986. Photo courtesy of the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association

The landmark hotel is celebrating its centennial this weekend and is inviting people to experience the camaraderie and the quality local entertainment it offers for themselves.

Originally built by Andrew Hoggan a century ago, the hotel was home to 34 rooms, a lobby, dining room, and parlour.

“They built this as a premier dining and lodging facility,” Ollek said. “They had everything in here — bellhops, food service to the rooms. It was quite up-to-date at that time.”

When Prohibition hit in 1918, a few years after opening, Hoggan closed the hotel. But it wasn’t long until it was scooped up and carried through the period of outlawed alcohol by G.B. Armstrong of Armstrong’s Department Store, who ran the place until 1921.

In 1921, Major C.S. Goldman bought the hotel and three lots with 150 feet of frontage, and did complete renovations on the building. He purchased the hotel for $25,000 at the time.

The next owner was J.A. Piderman, who took over ownership in 1928 and operated the Adelphi for the next 13 years. Piderman sold it to Howie Laidlaw in 1941.

In the 1940s, the Adelphi faced another crisis: a fire that burned about a dozen rooms in the hotel’s east wing.

“That wing was never ever rebuilt, and we just lost those rooms,” Ollek said.

After the fire, Laidlaw restored the rest of the hotel and sold it to George McMurchy. McMurchy made his mark on the hotel by adding a ladies’ beer parlour in 1948.

McMurchy owned the hotel for eight years and sold it to a pair who owned it for two years before it went to Ed and Bill Kraus in 1958. In 1964, Bill and his wife Bella bought out Ed’s share of the hotel and the couple ran it for another decade.

The hotel changed owners twice in the next six years before reaching Ollek in June of 1980.

“We bought it on a trial basis. We thought maybe three years or so, and if we didn’t like it, we’d buy another place,” Ollek said. “That’s all water under the bridge. It’s no longer three years, it’s 33 years.”

Ollek said he focused on maintenance and improvements to the hotel in the first few years, spending seven days a week there. However, Ollek said he has kept many of the hotel’s historic features in tact, indicating an original window that’s been painted over by the door of the bar.

“We’ve kept everything that was old,” he said. “If anything, we’ve just covered it. We’ve left it there in case anyone ever wants to go back. The original ceilings and everything are still in there.”

Ollek said preserving the hotel’s history is important because it reflects the community he calls home. Since relocating to Merritt from Kamloops over three decades ago, Ollek said he tries to serve the community that’s served him and his family well.

For one, he’s found plenty of local entertainment to take to the stage inside the pub. Local band the Hoodoos will play during the centennial celebrations on Friday afternoon and evening, and again on Saturday afternoon.

“We’ve got lots of musicians coming in,” Ollek said.

Ollek’s use of the royal “we” is telling of the sense of community inside its historic walls.

Ollek called local guitarist John Flottvik one of the bar’s regular entertainers. Since moving to Merritt about six years ago, Flottvik and his wife have spent many afternoons and evenings socializing at the Adelphi.

“When we walked in here, it was just like coming home. It was a friendly atmosphere right off the get-go,” Flottvik said.

The hotel in its early days. Photo courtesy of the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association

The hotel in its early days. Photo courtesy of the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association

At the encouragement of mainstay guitarist Gary Cooper, Flottvik reconnected with his guitar after decades of not playing it on the Adelphi’s stage. Cooper hosts Cooper Country every weekend, bringing a slew of musicians to share the stage. Cooper will also be the ringleader of this weekend’s entertainment, and Ollek said he’s got a good feeling about the celebrations.

“It’s going to be a great turnout. I’ve got a lot of people coming from all over,” he said.

Long-time bartenders Linda Johnston and Colleen Garcia have worked at the hotel for almost as long as Ollek has owned it. Over their two-plus decades there, they say they’ve got to know their patrons as more than just customers.

“The people we used to serve years ago, we’re now serving their grandkids,” Johnston said. “It’s really just like family.”

Ollek still spends every day of the week at the hotel, but said as long as his health allows, he’ll continue to run it and enjoy running it.

“It’ll always be a step back into the past where people talk about the old times. It’s a get-together place.”

The 100th anniversary celebrations kick off Friday afternoon at about 1:30 and Saturday with a free Baron of Beef at about 1:30 as well, Ollek said.