Semple Unveils Vision for Distillery and Entertainment Complex Adjacent to the Brandt Centre
World-Class Team Assembled, $20M Investment Announced and Over 150 Jobs to be Created
Regina, SK — Shaun Semple has officially announced the launch of Queen City Distillers, a bold reimagining of the former YQR Distillery that will redefine food, beverage and entertainment in the heart of Regina.
With a new name and a new vision for an underutilized space in the REAL District, local business leader and long-time Regina resident, Shaun Semple is pleased to unveil the name of his new venture into the distilling and brewing business. This facility will be much more than a distillery, however. It will be an entertainment complex that provides a unique intersection for food, cocktails and entertainment to meet here in Regina, all within close proximity to the Brandt Centre and Mosaic Stadium. At a press event today, Semple unveiled the new name of this distilling, brewing and entertainment complex to be Queen City Distillers. This new brand will be the label for a new multi-restaurant, multi-bar and live music venue that will be housed in the old Agribition Building.
As he noted earlier in the year, this new venue will collocate several businesses, creating the most complete entertainment complex in the city and beyond. The complex is set to include:
a premium craft distillery and brewery
a 7,200 ft2 drive-through-equipped wine, beer & liquor store
a 250-person one-of-a-kind sports bar
a 46-person wine and premium spirits bar
a 264-person one-of-a-kind restaurant
a 145-person speakeasy-style lounge
a 1490-person multi-level live music venue
The complex will feature a total of three stages and is envisioned to be the go-to destination for local up and comers and touring acts alike. The newly revealed brand identity and logo set the tone for a modern, locally rooted venue that promises to become a cultural hub in Regina.
“Regina is long overdue for an exciting complex like this that can serve as a hub no matter who you are, what you drink or what kind of music you listen to,” said Shaun Semple, founder of Queen City Distillers. “I wanted to create a place that celebrates community, connection, and craft — where people can gather, enjoy the best drinks, food, and where artists from around the world dream of performing. Regina deserves this.”
In order to bring the vision to life, Semple has assembled a dream team of visionary designers to enhance Brandt Developments in-house local architectural team, led by Frank Bojkovsky. Two key companies were introduced at today’s press event, including Jim & Michael Cafarelli of Cafarelli Concepts and Maxie Pennington of DesignAgency, a world-renowned interior design firm. Cafarelli has a long history of constructing unique venues across the world, including the opening of the first and seven subsequent House of Blues and a unique hospitality space under the UK’s Chelsea Football Club’s Stadium called Under the Bridge. Six of Cafarelli’s past projects have been named on Billboard Magazine’s Top Venues list, including the House of Blues at Disney Springs in Orlando that has previously held the #1 spot on that list. Cafarelli will lead design and construction of the project and will work closely with Brandt Developments and local trades to fulfil the buildings transformation.
“It’s very exciting to be in Regina working on this project. The project that Shaun has envisioned here is not only exciting for the local community but exciting for Canada across the board,” Said Cafarelli. “Nowhere else in Canada is there a campus, directly adjacent to sporting arenas that could house a restaurant, bar, tasting room and music venue like this. That is one of the many things that attracted us to say ‘yes’ to this project.”
Under Cafarelli’s leadership, DesignAgency, a Toronto-based design firm, specializing in hospitality, has also been enlisted in the project to realize the interior design vision for each venue within the complex. Led by Matt Davis, DesignAgency has a long history of reimagining venues across the world including restaurants like Chop Steakhouse, hotels like the Ritz-Carlton in Miami, and live music clubs, including three new clubs in development with Live Nation in collaboration legendary Canadian musician, Drake.
“We get to work on unique projects all over the world, but there’s something special about this one,” says Matt Davis, one of three Founding Partners at DesignAgency. “You often don’t see this kind of motivation from an owner, and we are very excited to bring his ideas to life in something that will truly be unique for the Queen City. Shaun’s passion and vision for giving something unique to his hometown is truly incredible.”
Semple also announced that the approximate cost of this project will be north of $20 million and will create over 150 new jobs in Regina.
More details are expected in the coming weeks and months including announcements for the names of each of the venues within the complex, design renderings, new websites, and more.
For more information on Queen City Distillers, contact Kelly Clifton contact@QCDistillers.com or (306) 791-8927.
For more information on Cafarelli Concepts, visit https://www.cafarelliconcepts.com/
For more information on DesignAgency, visit https://www.thedesignagency.ca/