Businesss Owners

During the Fall of 2010, The Old House Restaurant was re-opened by new owners Jeff Lucas and Don Sharpe. With great enthusiasm these two friends have revitalized this favourite Comox Valley heritage site and dining destination. Both with decades of experience in hospitality, coincidentally Jeff and Don both managed the same steak and prime rib restaurant back in Toronto almost 20 years ago before they met!

Jeff Lucas, Business Owner/Manager

With more than 22 years in the hospitality industry, Jeff has managed many great restaurants in both Ontario and BC. For the last 12 years, Jeff was the North Vancouver Island Sales Manager for Labatt Breweries.

His passion is divided between delivering exceptional customer service to his guests and ensuring that his staff are having fun at the same time.

Jeff Lucas is the current president of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and has sat on this board for the last 5 years. He initiated the Comox Valley Bagless movement in an effort to maintain the beauty of the Valley and the scenery around it.

He is proud father of three great children that are very active in dramatic arts, dancing, figure skating and horseback riding. An avid snowboarder and part time instructor, he loves that fact that living in the Valley, he can on any day of the year, be 10 minutes away from another fantastic outdoor adventure.

Don Sharpe, Business Owner

Don has been a part of the restaurant industry since he was a teenager. He completed his Hotel and Restaurant Management degree at Red River College in Manitoba. He was a General Manager at 21 years old and he spent 7 years with Mother Tuckers before becoming an Area Manager for three restaurants in Calgary. He spent 5 years at the Calgary Zoo taking their food and beverage services to a new level and started a very successful catering division for the Zoo.

He is also the current Director of Business Operations and Marketing at Mount Washington Alpine Resort. In his 11th year, he oversees Marketing, including web, events, promotions and advertising as well as the business areas including retail, snow sport activities, Nordic activities, and overall strategic development for summer operations. In the past he was also responsible for the food and beverage operations but has moved on to other responsibilities. As well, he was the lead for the resort's planning and implementation for their 2010 Olympic opportunities.

Chantal, his wife of 22 years, works for WestJet as the Administrative Manager of the Comox Base. They have a very active family life with their three children all of which are very involved in a variety of sports and school activities.

Don is a member of the North Island College Board of Governors. He is a Past President of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and he is a co founder and vice chair for the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society. He has been a part of the Airport Commission, the Community Foundation and the Economic Development board.