Way to build the Wayfarer, and other stories
Construction progress in the hospitality industry

There are two popular north coast eateries that are currently under massive renovation plans. While both are not working completely from the ground up, the work is so extensive, they might as well be.
The first is the Wayfarer Restaurant in Cannon Beach, and the other is The Sandtrap Restaurant in Gearhart.

The Wayfarer Restaurant
Jeff Martin is originally from The Dalles, Oregon. He started cooking at age 14 and has spent 23 years in the restaurant business, from bus boy to cook, chef, executive chef, and now food and beverage director. He has worked in Portland and at the Astoria Golf and Country Club, and has spent the last fifteen years working as part of Steve Martin Management Com-pany in Cannon Beach.
When SMMC first purchased the Wayfarer, it was a tavern by the same name. The company converted it to a restaurant and Jeff was the opening chef. He then spent two and a half years as manager of the Wayfarer Restaurant, and is now overseeing progress on its renovation.
Paul Nofield, current food and beverage director for the Wayfarer, started cooking at age 10. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, but lived most of his life in Portland, Oregon. Several members of his family have owned restaurants and he started managing The Wayfarer in 1984. In 1993 he opened the dining room at the Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach and was promoted to food and beverage director for the Wayfarer in 1995.
The current renovation of The Wayfarer Restaurant started in January of this year with a targeted reopening date in early May. The $1 million renovation project will increase restaurant seating capacity from 75 to 100, reposition the entrance toward a view of Haystack Rock, restructure the interior layout and redo the entire kitchen and interior decor. "All that was left was the subfloor and the joists," said Paul. "And we even replaced some of those," added Jeff. The restaurant can also accommodate 40 in the lounge and this summer will be the fourth to accommodate seats for 40 on the oceanfront deck.
The architect for the renovation is Abbott and Heyes out of Seattle while Elliot Construction of Cannon Beach is the general contractor. Subcontractors include Borland Electric, North Coast Mechanical, Bob White Heating, McGil Drywall, Jesse French Roofing, P & L Johnson Mechanical and Cannon Beach Landscaping.
The Wayfarer Restaurant places an emphasis on seafood, specializing in salmon dishes. Prices range from $5.95 to $8.95 for breakfast and up to $19.95 for dinner.

The Wayfarer Restaurant
Contacts: Jeff Martin & Paul Nofield
Address: 1190 Pacific Drive
P. O. Box 219
Cannon Beach, Oregon 97110
Telephone: 503/436-1108
Fax: 503/436-0546
Website:
www.wayfarer-restaurant.com
Hours: 8a - Midnight, Seven Days

The Sandtrap Restaurant
In 1848 a gentleman named Philip Gearhart settled on 600 acres at the coast of Oregon. By 1888, Marshall Kenney bought out the heirs to the Gearhart property and plotted Gearhart Park. In 1892, Gearhart Golf Course, the oldest on the west coast, opened for operation, growing to nine complete holes by 1900. With the exception of a few years during World War I, the property has been a continually operating golf course since then. Part of the land was used during the war to farm crops, feeding the locals. In addition, wartime troops have camped on the southern corner of the now 100 acres occupied by Gearhart Golf Links.
Mark Kelly is the general manager for Gearhart Golf Links. He joined the family business in 1976, helping out his grandparents, and the property is still owned by his grandmother, Olive Kelly.
There seems to be a history of grand structures in the area... and a history of burning. "The Gearhart Hotel burned down in 1923." said Mark, "like every other beautiful building in Gearhart." The Gearhart by the Sea condominiums burned in 1915, followed by the nearby Gearhart Hotel. Well, here we go again... The 9,000 square feet clubhouse for Gearhart Golf Links was last renovated in 1946 and contained the rental office for the condos, the Sandtrap Restaurant and Lounge and a clubroom for the golfers. On August 3, 1998 it burned to the ground. The cause of the fire was reported to be faulty ventilation.
The new clubhouse, modeled after the Victorian design of the Gearhart Hotel, will be built on the site of the old clubhouse - at a whopping 22,000 square feet. Architect for the $3.4 million project is David Soderstrom Architects out of Portland. They were referred to the Kellys by the Oregon Golf Association. WDY Consulting Engineers has provided structural consulting on the project, with Interface Engineering helping with mechanical and electrical planning. Local Carlson Construction had been doing site preparation and excavation and Joe Lucia, a general contractor from Seaside, has been performing numerous projects along the way.
The general contractor for the job has yet to be selected. The project will go out to bid to a "pre-selected" list on June 1 of this year. The plan is to break ground by July 19 and be open for operation on July 1, 2000.
While both the old Sandtrap Restaurant and Lounge and the new Sandtrap Restaurant seat 85 people, the new three-story building will also have meeting space to accommodate up to 160 people, a 100' covered veranda facing the golf course and space available for rent to area businesses. It will also house the condo rental office as before, the club room and snack bar, plus the pro shop.
Not content with merely rebuilding their clubhouse from the ashes up, Gearhart Golf Links is also commencing a $1.2 million renovation of the golf course itself. Renovation on the first nine is scheduled for completion by July 1 of this year, with the back nine commencing in February 2000, open for play by July of that year.
Architect for the project, adding mounding and other Scottish features to the course is Bill Robinson of Florence, Oregon. He was recommended by the OGA.
Along with all the construction dust and golf balls flying, the company celebrated the 107th anniversary of Gearhart Golf Links on May 8. LCB

Gearhart Golf Links/Sandtrap
Principal: Olive Kelly, owner
Mark Kelly, general manager
Address: 1300 N. Marion, P. O. Box 2758, Gearhart, Oregon 97138
Telephone: 503/717-9243
Fax: 503/717-0265
e-mail: markk@seasurf.com
Golf Links Office: 8a - 5p, M - F
Golf Course: Call for Hours
The Sandtrap: Call for Hours
Congratulations! LCB

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