Remembering Paul Smolen

March 1945 - June 2019

Born in Krakow, Poland, Paul moved to Canada as a teenager, graduated from UBC and found his inspiration for the restaurant industry after a trip to Europe in 1975. He started his entrepreneurial career in the restaurant industry in 1976, when he simultaneously opened The Daisy Restaurant Espresso Bar and McGuiggans, both located on Vancouver’s Robson Street. During Expo ’86, Paul managed Restaurant Bucaresti. His passion for his work and his knack for customer service inspired all those around him.

It was in 1988, just two years after Expo ’86, that Paul and two business partners leased Hart House property from the City of Burnaby and converted the house into what is now one of the region’s legendary establishments, Hart House Restaurant. In 2000, Paul bought out his partners and his wife Carol Smolen joined the business; they celebrated the restaurant’s 30th anniversary in September of 2018.

Paul loved travel and the relationships it built and nurtured. Each year he would explore restaurants and wineries from around the world, taking him from Spain, to Germany, Italy and all over North America’s wine regions. Paul was often found enjoying the company of his fellow restaurateurs and wine lovers in the dining room at Hart House, where laughter, sharp wits, an intrinsic passion for wine and food, and a fine palate were the only requirements for a seat at the table. He will be remembered for his inimitable charm and warmth, as well as the depth and loyalty of his relationships.

His wife Carol Smolen, along with the management team will carry on the legacy of Hart House Restaurant and the purity
of hospitality that Paul created.