[This interview first appeared in Issue 3 of The Fluevog Post (Fall/Winter 2014)]
Andrew Neeb, Fluevog Distillery Manager
Years with Fluevog:
Since the opening on Star Wars Day 2013 (May the 4th be with you).
Where are you from?
I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but I made the conscious decision to relocate to Keswick, Ontario at the age of one.
Which are your favourite pairs right now for men and women?
Men: The Down to Earth Valentina
Women: The Prepare 2.0 Tinder and The 7th Heaven 8-Eye
Describe The Distillery in a nutshell:
The Distillery is like a little nook of preserved history in a modern city. It appeals to almost everyone through its food, art and shopping. It’s the perfect place to stroll because it’s safe, allows dogs, and has great coffee (and chocolate). The festivals in The Distillery are second to none – Christmas, arts & crafts, summer shows; they’re all so much fun! While it no longer distills, I believe at one time it was the biggest in the world… or maybe North America? I’m not sure, but at least Toronto, surely.
Distillery Favourites for:
Coffee: Furbo Coffee (double Americano black)
Lunch: The Brick Street Bakery
Dinner: That’s way too hard to choose, but Mill Street BrewPub is good for food and people watching.
Shopping: GOTSTYLE & Hoi Bo
Other: Soma Chocolatemaker
What would surprise people about Toronto?
I think visitors are always surprised by how massive the city really is, and the variety of cultures it represents and celebrates. People are always mentioning how polite locals are, but I don’t know if that’s the city or the country in general.
Favourite Fluevog store you’ve visited:
Gastown, Vancouver – it’s awesome to have the ideas and people behind the product so close to the shop floor.
Strangest pronounciation of Fluevog:
Flew-ay-vough
Favourite John interaction:
Once, at the end of a phone conversation with him, I found out that he’d been riding his bike in small circles around his apartment the whole time.
