Articles from Todays Telegraph city Section
1) Relish
2) No Frills Changover & Co-op could close.
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http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/1131214
Relish will revitalize community landmark
AINT JOHN - Saint Johners are on their way to relishing a new menu in an old city landmark.
Relish Gourmet Burgers, oft shortened to Relish, opened their first restaurant in downtown Fredericton in early January.
Relish founder and Saint John-born entrepreneur, Rivers Corbett, recently announced that the budding burger franchise will be opening for business in the Port City later this year in the space formerly occupied by Reggie's Restaurant on Germain Street.
Reggie's opened in 1969 and became a staple for hungry Saint Johners looking for a hearty breakfast. The popular eatery closed it's doors earlier this year after a string of tax woes on the part of the former owner.
The diner had a rich history in the city, attracting local politicians, visiting dignitaries and a host of colourful regulars who frequented the spot almost daily.
Corbett said Relish diners will see a bridging from the old to the new.
"We're definitely respectful of the old, respectful of it being a strong landmark in Saint John. Things that we do in there will still respect the Relish brand, but it will respect the local connection which Reggie's adds to that area," he said.
Corbett felt "a certain heart tug" for Saint John and said the city was an early choice for the business' next location.
"It's a natural fit. I know the market quite well. I have family there, friends, all that jazz. So it was a natural extension," he said.
Bill and Norma Eaton, owners of Audiocorp, will be taking ownership of the location which they hope to have up and running by October.
Bill said they picked the Germain Street property as Relish's new home because Uptown Saint John is alive and vibrant and he thinks people will enjoy seeing the abandoned Reggie's revitalized.
"We've had several contractors through the building already and besides just doing their job, they have a genuine level of excitement of trying to get this restored in the uptown community too," the owner said.
Bill, a self-professed "foodie," heard about Relish from a friend and his love of fine dining and curiosity about the burger buzz carried him up Route 7 to try one first hand.
"As soon as we went up and tried it once, we were sold," he said, adding that he has yet to try a Relish burger he doesn't enjoy.
His favorite is the Cabo Diablo, one of Relish's signature patties cushioned by several spicy layers of tomato jalapeno salsa, guacamole, sour cream and hot sauce.
"I want in," was Bill's first thought when he heard the gourmet joint was looking to expand into Saint John.
"I was sold right away based on the product."
Relish's original menu contains everything from a Big Texas burger, topped with smokey sauce, crispy onion, pepper jack cheese and bacon, to The Greek Tycoon, a Mediterranean-inspiration topped with feta cheese, marinated bell peppers and onions, olives and tzatziki sauce.
Patrons can also choose from an array of patties; AAA beef, grade A ground turkey and a secret mixture of ground portobello and chickpeas as the vegetarian option.
Relish's existing locations, in Fredericton and Oromocto, each have a signature burger. Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside dreamed up his own Brad Burger and the Oromocto signature is the Base Commander, a throwback to CFB Gagetown.
Corbett said Relish is in the process of finding a signature burger for Saint John.
He said the franchise will bring in social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn so people can pitch their city-inspired burgers.
"We're looking to build a burger that reflects the area... We'll really take a pulse of the burger lovers in Saint John and see what they think so that when we're open and it's created, they've had a part in doing that," he said.
Chef Ray Henry makes his living building burgers. As the director of burgers with Relish, Henry divides his time between franchise locations, generating menu ideas.
He wouldn't let the burger out of the bag as to what his ideas for Saint John's signature will be, but said he is doing some research on the area. The chef hinted that Reggie's history may play into the burger.
Bill said he's open to all suggestions for the locally-inspired burger, laughing heartily at the idea of including dulse or fiddleheads in the dish.
"We will have something that's going to be unique to Saint John, maybe it's in the name, maybe it's in the ingredients, but something that people feel they can take ownership of," Bill said.
To get updated on Relish news, visit
www.relishme.ca or
www.twitter.com/relishus. Corbett said Relish hopes to have a Facebook group up and running within the month. In the meantime, Saint John signature suggestions can be made by tweeting @relishus.
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West side grocery landscape is changing
Market: Superstore converting to No Frills, Co-Op may close
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/1131221
SAINT JOHN - One west side grocery store will soon be seeing changes and another is in danger of closing, but officials with the two stores say neither action is the result of Costco opening up in the city.
The Co-op on Fairville Blvd could be closing it's doors if sales don't improve.
The Atlantic Superstore in Lancaster Mall will soon be changing to a No Frills store, while the Saint John Co-op Food Market at 944 Fairville Blvd. is in danger of closing, unless its members show more support to the store.
No Frills stores are discount model stores, said Julija Hunter, vice-president of public relations with Loblaw Companies Ltd.
"The landscape is changing in the Atlantic (provinces). After a lot of evaluation, we found that it would be a good move for our employees, colleagues and our customers to convert to this low-price leader model."
Hunter said the No Frills model is more sustainable and will allow the company "to compete more effectively in that market." "It's a proven model for us as well. We know that it is popular, we know that it's a compliment to other types of stores in the market."
Hunter said the No Frills will offer "really good trusted low-prices, popular President's Choice and no-name products" as well as produce, meat and bakery products, but at lower prices. Brand name labels will also be offered at the store.
"Often, people may think that when you go from a Superstore that carries those items that you won't get them in a No Frills," Hunter said.
Loblaws is looking at converting the store sometime in the fall, Hunter said, with "conversations still underway" to determine whether jobs will change or be cut at the west side store in the process.
Big box store Costco, which opened in the city on May 27, didn't play a role in the the company's decision to change to a No Frills store, Hunter said.
"That wouldn't drive us. These are all complimentary."
In addition to the No Frills already open in Shediac and the soon-to-be store on the west side, Loblaws plans to convert five other Superstore, Supervalu and Save Easy stores in Atlantic Canada to No Frills stores, with two in Newfoundland and three in Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile, Co-op Atlantic held a meeting with members of the west side Co-op store, which has been open for about 40 years, on June 22 to make the members "aware of the issues" the store faces, said Ron Montgomery, area manager for operations with Co-op Atlantic.
"It's definitely in jeopardy. If the support of the membership doesn't improve, then there is the possibility that it will be recommended for closure," Montgomery said.
"It's had operating losses for the last four to five years. This year is trending worse than the year previous.
"We need the support of the membership to get the sales to a level where we can sustain operation."
Once a store is recommended for closure, the matter goes to the board of directors at Co-op Atlantic, Montgomery said.
"They take all of the factors into consideration and decide whether to proceed as recommended or (keep it open)."
However, Montgomery called the turnout at the June 22 meeting "encouraging," with 133 of 160 Co-op members showing up to the crucial meeting.
"The last few years we've struggled to get 25 to 30 members to a meeting."
Montgomery doesn't think the Superstore Atlantic converting to a No Frills will affect the Co-op west store's business.
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