Metro Vancouver's new 10,000 sq ft two-storey country bar is now open

It’s time to grab your cowboy boots and best cowboy hat because Metro Vancouver is home to a brand new two-storey country bar that’s nearly 10,000 square feet.

Located at 15330 102a Avenue in Surrey at the former location of The Taphouse (and before that, Mirage), The Barn Country Bar aims to be the go-to spot for country fans of all sorts.

Dished spoke with the co-owner of The Barn, Owen Coomer, who gave us all the details on how the new space came to be and what people can expect.

From The Taphouse to The Barn

The idea for The Barn started back when Taphouse had first closed its Surrey location back in 2023.

“We decided to close the business here, and we had auctions and all this stuff ready to go to get rid of all the stuff. But then, a third week into December, the landlords got together, and the original owner of the Taphouse agreed to have me and his son buy into the business. Owning my own business has been a dream of mine for basically twenty-plus years.”

Then, Coomer said that they knew they needed to put a different name on the marquee, but since they didn’t have as much capital, they decided to continue on as the Taphouse.

“We should have rebranded; we knew it,” said Coomer. “We just didn’t have the capital to change the menus, name, and the interior as we were starting a new business.”

Coomer added that because Taphouse went out with a bang in 2023 and then had it reopened just a month later, people gave them some flack because they thought it was a massive ploy to get dollars in the door.

“There was also a lot of people who said, ‘Oh, you guys are open? I thought this place closed.’ So it was a struggle for the last year with trying to turn the engine back on something that had closed down.”

Plus, Coomer said after operating for a decade as The Taphouse, he felt that the area had passed them by. “I think we just weren’t as trendy or popular. We were no longer a destination like we used to be.”

Metro Vancouver’s new country bar

Coomer decided on a country bar because he saw a need for it in the area, especially after Roosters Country Cabaret in Pitt Meadows closed.

“There isn’t really a country bar out here anymore that’s doing full-on country outside of the Yale downtown,” he said. “I know that they’re doing some really good things at Rusty’s in Cloverdale, where they do a couple of country-themed nights, but they’re not an actual full-on country bar.”

“We want to create a destination for people so anyone from other cities will drive in. They can meet up with the same people who are into country and just want a good place that supports live music, line dancing, and two-stepping.”

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What to expect at The Barn

So how has Coomer country-fied the old Taphouse? He said that much of the space already lent itself well to the country theme.

“The dance floor was already a vinyl wood, so we left that,” said Coomer. “We also enhanced some things with a fresh coat of paint. We’ve brought in a number of wood pieces and redid the stage as a wood feature.” Coomer also said that there are tons of neon and metal signs alongside a vintage 1985 Cloverdale rodeo poster donated by the Cloverdale rodeo.

“We added a lot of fixtures that remind you of country, whether it’s farm country, modern country, or horse country.

When it comes to food, Coomer said that The Barn offers a small but mighty menu of handhelds and appetizers.

“I did a lot of research on famous country bars in Nashville, Memphis, and even Texas, and what I found was most places only had ten or twelve food items,” said Coomer, adding that each item had a fun country-themed name. Examples include its hoedown handhelds and Whose Bed Has Your Churros Been Under (a spoof on the popular Shania Twain song).

“To me, country is fun, so we have to kind of poke fun of ourselves, too. That was kind of the point of the drinks and food; we just want to have fun with it. We’re not pretentious.”

You’ll also find other rodeo staples on the menu like deep-fried Oreos, baked potatoes, and deep-fried cheese curds.

“We even have a signature sandwich that’s got three patties, and this thing is gigantic. We ring a cowbell when somebody orders it because it’s supposed to be a showpiece. The point of everything is just to be fun.”

And aside from fun, affordability is an important factor for Coomer as well.

“I’ve done everything I possibly can to lower the prices of food and alcohol to a point where people will find value.”

“I’m not going to try to compete with Cactus Club or Earlsor any of these places. That’s not what we are. We’re not a fine dining or a modernized classic kind of restaurant. We’re a country bar where you’ll find value and be impressed with the quality of the food for the price.”

But we still had one question for Coomer that we just had to ask: would there be a mechanical bull? This is a question that Coomer said he gets a lot, and something he is looking into.

“I’m not saying it’s not a possibility, but right now, we don’t have one. I’ve put out some queries with some people who have it, and I’m thinking, potentially, come spring or summer, we might do a one-off night here and there.

The Barn opened its doors at the start of February 2025 and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 3 pm until late.

The Barn Country Bar

Address: 15330 102a Avenue, Surrey

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