MOOSE JAW — The Cornerstone Country Bar officially opened its doors last weekend, infusing downtown Moose Jaw with a fresh wave of country music, live entertainment, and signature Paddy Wagon smash burgers starting on Feb. 14.
The grand opening festivities commenced at 7 p.m., with patrons greeted by staff outfitted in Western-inspired jeans and branded Wrangler shirts to reflect the bar’s country theme.
“I’m very new to Moose Jaw, so I want you to know the citizens of Moose Jaw have been outstanding with me,” said Larry Baker, owner of the Cornerstone Country Bar earlier. “They have been very welcoming to me, and they’re excited about what’s happening.”
Baker, himself a retired law enforcement officer and contracted fire chief during his 28-year career, is now realizing his dream of owning his own country music bar after retirement — a dream that came to fruition only months after his final shift.
He is also a seasoned musician and entertainer with 30 years of experience behind him.
On opening night, live music kicked off at 10 p.m., featuring Baker’s own band partnered with local musicians in a performance titled “When Rock and Country Collide.” The two-day production blended country and rock genres, with the opening night spotlighting country tunes. Onstage, a professional-grade light show helped complete the picture to create an immersive concert experience exactly as Baker intended.
The evening also marked the debut of The Paddy Wagon, a Regina-based eatery known for its smash burgers that has now expanded its culinary footprint to Moose Jaw by partnering with the Cornerstone Country Bar.
“I’m not a restaurant guy, so when I started seeking out somebody to look after the kitchen and serve food, that’s how I met Kyle Forrest (owner of The Paddy Wagon). Their food is just outstanding,” Baker shared. “I don’t know if you’ve ever eaten (a Paddy Wagon smash burger), but yeah… I will never, ever touch another hamburger from any other place.”
The new venture also ties to Moose Jaw’s downtown history by retaining the historical “Cornerstone” name and provides employment for around 30 individuals including bouncers, barkeepers, and kitchen staff.
Cornerstone’s opening night drew a lot of attention from the public with widespread mentions on social media and a packed venue throughout the night and on Saturday. Overall, the community appears to be supportive of Baker’s new venture.
“After speaking to the public, we’ve been getting phone calls for reservations of up to 80 people,” Baker said. “I can’t take reservations for 80 people — it’s my grand opening weekend.”
Although many of the larger reservations could not be accommodated at this stage, several of these calls were simply to congratulate the retired law enforcement officer turned entrepreneur with words of encouragement.
“The phone’s been ringing off the wall with people saying, ‘Thank you for bringing a country bar here. Thank you,’” Baker said in his concluding remarks. “I hear it a lot — Moose Jaw can be a pretty supportive community… and I’ve seen nothing but that positive support.”
For more information about the new venue call 306-692-4747, visit CornerstoneCountry.ca, or visit ‘Cornerstone Bar’ on Facebook.
The Cornerstone Country Bar is located at 8 Main Street North.
