A General Store Since 1888

Long before anyone ordered a latte here, this Murrayville corner was where locals came for dry goods, clothing, and food. According to the bistro's own history, a general store was first built on the site in 1888. P.Y. Porter, who had worked in the store, bought it in 1916, and the Porter name has been attached to the building ever since. The store stayed open through the Great Depression, when many customers could not pay their bills, and some of those unpaid accounts can still be seen on site in what the bistro calls the McCaskey Files.

The store was rebuilt before the Second World War, and Eldon (Eldy) Porter ran it from 1947, after two years with the Canadian Armed Forces, until his sudden passing in 1997. The building also served as a Canada Post office for 80 years, until 1998, and it received official heritage status in January 2009. The original fixtures, floors, and cabinetry are still in place, and the bistro notes that some of the dips in the floor were made by the weight of the old store counters.

Mic'd Up Murrayville

The reason Porter's belongs in an events guide is Thursday night. Mic'd Up Murrayville, known to regulars as MUM, is a weekly open mic hosted by Shannon Lee and backed by the house band, Porter's Special Blend. The bistro says everyone gets two or three songs, depending on the room and the list, and the band is happy to jump in behind you. They have covered jazz, folk, blues, pop, and "the occasional surprise request that nobody sees coming."

The night has been running since 2015, and since 2023 each evening has also featured a 40-minute showcase set by a professional or emerging performer. The fall lineup on the website includes Tom Hammel on October 8, Patsy & Joe on October 15, The Silvertones on October 22, and Strongbow & Wry on October 29, with more artists booked into early December. The poster for the Tom Hammel night lists the open mic at 6:30 p.m. and the showcase at 7:30 p.m.

What Regulars Say

Reviewers talk about Thursdays as much as the food. One called Porter's "THE happening place, especially on Thursdays," and another described really great musicians and "a fun, relaxed atmosphere." A third offered a simple tip: get there early. The bistro says it has hosted first-timers, touring artists, music students, and retirees rediscovering their guitars.

Daytime visitors describe the room in similar terms. One recent reviewer said the building "carries a certain charm, almost as if history lingers in its walls," and that it reminded them of their grandparents' home. Another wrote that the community needs more places like this that bring people together.

Breakfast, Baking, and Browsing

By day, Porter's is a bistro and coffee house run by Bill and Karin Buurmeester. The menu lists hot breakfasts, lunch sandwiches, soup, quiche, pot pie, shepherd's pie, chili, and lasagna, plus a daily open-face sandwich special. Cinnamon buns, doughnuts, scones, muffins, and bread come out of the on-site bakery each morning, and Tourism Langley singles out the cinnamon knots and the croissant sandwich as must-tries.

Reviewers mention the smoked salmon Benny, well-seasoned hash browns, sourdough toast, and cinnamon rolls one described as excellent. Shelves around the room hold giftware and locally crafted products, from cards and puzzles to mugs and glassware. One family makes lunch at Porter's part of its annual Christmas tree hunt and does some gift shopping while they are there.

Visit

Porter's is on 48 Avenue in the heart of Murrayville, open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sundays and most statutory holidays. Baked goods can sell out, so call (604) 530-5297 if you are after something specific, and reviewers warn that morning parking is tight. Check the Live Music page for the week's showcase artist.

Come for a cinnamon bun, stay for a song, and you will be part of a Murrayville tradition that has been serving the neighbourhood, in one form or another, for well over a century.