Smoking Waters, a Columbia Valley classic

Kris Murrell is a new arrival in the Columbia Valley and the new owner of Smoking Waters Coffee Co. in Fairmont Hot Springs. — Photo courtesy Kris Murrell

Thanks to Kris Murrell, Smoking Waters Coffee Co. in Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C., has a refreshed interior and a streamlined focus. “We’ve brought it back to its roots as a classic coffee shop featuring great coffee and baked goods,” the new owner said. “We’re keeping it simple and high quality.” Murrell arrived in the Columbia Valley last spring, leaving Calgary for a more laid-back environment in Fairmont. He took possession of Smoking Waters on February 1, 2017, and after sprucing up the interior, reopened on February 17. “Over all,” he said, “we’ve been getting an amazing response.”