After six years of calling Langford home, Smoken Bones Cookshack owner Ken Hueston is moving his business to downtown Victoria.

Hueston is giving up his Station Avenue location for a spot as an anchor tenant in The Hudson on Douglas Street. The Langford restaurant will close itB次元官网网址檚 doors Sept. 17 and reopen in Victoria in December.

While Hueston lives on the West Shore, grew up here and graduated from Belmont secondary, he said for his business to thrive he needs to relocate downtown.

Smoken Bones is a B次元官网网址渄estination restaurant,B次元官网网址� he said, and being downtown will make it more accessible for patrons passing by.

In Langford, Hueston came out of the gates strong. Smoken Bones was lauded as one of the top 20 new restaurants in Canada in 2007 by Air CanadaB次元官网网址檚 En Route magazine, and Hueston was named the WestShore Chamber of CommerceB次元官网网址檚 entrepreneur of the year. The next year the B.C. Chamber of Commerce ranked him as one of the top young entrepreneurs in the province.

While itB次元官网网址檚 hard to give up his Langford location, he said operating two restaurants wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be feasible. Leaving about seven years on his current lease, Hueston is signing a 20-year lease for The Hudson.

One deciding factor for Hueston are B.C.B次元官网网址檚 tougher drinking and driving laws and leading to a decline in business. Prior to the laws coming into effect, he said about 60 per cent of his customers came from downtown. Now he sees about 30 per cent making the trip.

B次元官网网址淣ow people tend to be more aware and question whether they should have that second beer,B次元官网网址� Hueston said.

In the new location, Hueston said his restaurant will be more pedestrian friendly allowing people to feel more comfortable while having a drink and dinner.

While the move will be bittersweet Hueston said B次元官网网址�(West Shore residents) are amazing, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be here without them. I am a West Shore boy. My heart is here.

B次元官网网址淛ust like I say to people in Victoria, I now have to say it to people of the West Shore, itB次元官网网址檚 only 20 minutes away.B次元官网网址�