Choreographer and stuntman leave stage to open Chronicles Public House

Update: Chronicles Public House has closed its doors after opening in July. 

Aaron Conrad and Keith Collee left theatre life — Conrad as a choreographer, Collee as a stuntman — to open a bar.

It's not just a bar, though. It's a public house they hope will draw people in to drink local beers and get to know their neighbours.

"Keith was the guy I'd call when I'd want someone to jump out of a building," says Conrad of Collee's unique theatrical talents. "So, yeah, we've been through a few fires together."

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And so when Collee lost his job in oil and gas, they took the plunge and sought out a location on 17th Avenue, in the space that was once 80th & Ivy, and opened Chronicles Public House. 

"Of course 'pub' is a derivative of 'public house,'" says Collee, "which is what they were in areas that didn't have taverns back in the day. Certain neighbours would just open their doors, put out food and drinks, and people would just come and get to know their neighbours."

There are only local beers on tap, served in true 20-ounce pints and sourced from Calgary and Cochrane — Village Brewery, Common Crown, Half Hitch and Caravel — and it has the only dedicated rotating Tool Shed tap in all of Alberta.

"We've decided that the city has been very good to us," says Collee.

"We have a stage, and we want to give these local breweries a platform to stand on and shout out about their incredible products. There are so many new breweries in town, and they're making such good beer."

As for the food, they're going for comfort — but beyond the expected.

Everything is made in-house, from the bourbon burger to candied bacon.

Conrad and Collee plan to support the local arts community as well as those who live and work in the area. They've teamed up with Kyle Anderson, a Calgarian planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Epilepsy Canada, and are hosting events this fall to raise funds for his journey.

And because they also want to have some fun with their new endeavour, they're bringing back the days of Saturday morning cartoons with a Saturday cartoon brunch.

"That's the kind of idea we want to foster here, that everyone's friends," says Collee as their new pub fills with people on opening night.

"Come in, talk, have a good time. That's what it's all about."