New (chain) Restaurants in Winnipeg - Page 12

GmC · #**221** Posted **Apr 29, 2011, 8:53 PM**

The beef tacos are excellent! Especially at 3 for $5. That truck is usually downtown during the lunch hours, on Henderson across from the Dairy Queen during the evenings and then somewhere in the exchange after the bar rush. Combing this taco truck and smoke's poutine, we've got some great street food in Winnipeg!

Mininari · #**222** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 2:29 PM**

So, I noticed a "Coming this Fall: Swiss Chalet" sign on the southwest corner of the Kenaston Common Wal-Mart parking lot, along with heavy machinery starting construction.

When the heck are we going to see five-guys burgers and fries open up?
I noted that a 3-unit orange and grey building, with a drive-thru perths, went up in Kenaston Common near D'Acquisto a while ago, and figured it would go in one of those units... but still nothing.

flatlander · #**223** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 2:40 PM**

I am going to go out on a limb here, but I have to say that Smoke's Poutine rates about a C in my books. Good potatoes, but lousy gravy and skimpy cheese. I only got the basic version - didn't want any bacon distractions.

h0twired · #**224** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatlander

I am going to go out on a limb here, but I have to say that Smoke's Poutine rates about a C in my books. Good potatoes, but lousy gravy and skimpy cheese. I only got the basic version - didn't want any bacon distractions.

I have heard that the gravy is better when it isn't super busy and they aren't trying to keep up constantly with making more gravy quickly.

I had friends go at lunch and go another time in the middle of the afternoon and they said the gravy was much better in the afternoon.

flatlander · #**225** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 6:39 PM**

I am willing to give it a second try!

BariasEC · #**226** Posted **Jun 7, 2011, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mininari

So, I noticed a "Coming this Fall: Swiss Chalet" sign on the southwest corner of the Kenaston Common Wal-Mart parking lot, along with heavy machinery starting construction.

When the heck are we going to see five-guys burgers and fries open up?
I noted that a 3-unit orange and grey building, with a drive-thru perths, went up in Kenaston Common near D'Acquisto a while ago, and figured it would go in one of those units... but still nothing.

that's like a 2 minute walk from my place!!

actually.. i'll go get you guys a pic right now

1ajs · #**227** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 1:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatlander

I am willing to give it a second try!

still a friggin line up outside it tonight crazy...

BariasEC · #**228** Posted **Jun 8, 2011, 2:57 AM**

here:

pegcity · #**229** Posted **Jun 9, 2011, 9:18 PM**

Congrats Winnipeg, welcome back Swiss Chalet! lol

Mininari · #**230** Posted **Jun 10, 2011, 2:50 PM**

Its nice to see familiar old institutions return to the city...
...of course, I'm not just talking about a Canadian chicken chain

cheswick · #**231** Posted **Jul 24, 2011, 3:00 PM**

So my mom referred to Kfc as champs again yesterday. I googled it and came up with a YouTube commercial for champs Kentucky fried chicken delivered to your door.

I need some answers to this mystery that has plagued me for my whole life! I figured some you you fine folks could help me out.

Can anyone shed some light on why my mom calls it champs. What was champs? Were the stores branded as champs or as Kentucky fried chicken?

Kinguni · #**232** Posted **Jul 24, 2011, 3:42 PM**

Champs Food Systems, owned by Oscar Grubert, operated the original Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in Manitoba, as well as several other restaurants (Mother Tuckers Food Experience, Garden Crepery, Butcher Block, G Willikers and the Grubee's chain). All KFC's are now corporate owned.

brithgob · #**233** Posted **Jul 25, 2011, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinguni

Champs Food Systems, owned by Oscar Grubert, operated the original Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in Manitoba, as well as several other restaurants (Mother Tuckers Food Experience, Garden Crepery, Butcher Block, G Willikers and the Grubee's chain). All KFC's are now corporate owned.

This last sentence is not universally true, though I can't speak to Manitoba specifically. The Saskatoon locations are still owned by their original franchisee, El Rancho, which also bought the Regina outlets a few years ago.

But to elaborate on the original question, the original franchisees were existing restaurants and drive-ins who then added Kentucky Fried Chicken to their menu. Eventually, at KFC Corp.'s encouragement, freestanding KFC stores were built, but they mostly had the local name on the sign in conjunction with the KFC logo. So, Champ's Kentucky Fried Chicken in Winnipeg, Gene's Kentucky Fried Chicken in Regina, Chic's in Moose Jaw, Scott's Chicken Villa in Ontario and Quebec, and so on.

Kinguni · #**234** Posted **Jul 25, 2011, 2:53 AM**

My mistake. I thought KFC had taken 100% ownership of all stores and the same time the took over the Champs locations. My first job was as a cook at a Champs Kentucky Fried Chicken back in 1981. Stayed there through high school and then the better part of a year after graduating.

cheswick · #**235** Posted **Aug 3, 2011, 8:26 PM**

Just in City Place food court. There's a sign up for a new Gyro place to open in Fall 2011. Not overly significant except that location has been vacant for at least 5 years (likely far longer). It's always nice to see some new tenants occupying vacant spaces in the downtown malls.

Winnipegger · #**236** Posted **Aug 4, 2011, 1:53 PM**

Hey does anybody know what they are doing to the former Red Lobster building on the north-east corner of Pembina and Bishop Grandin?

trebor204 · #**237** Posted **Aug 4, 2011, 4:56 PM**

According to Shindico
Westoba Credit Union is moving to old Grapes location

http://www.shindico.com/media/com_estateagent/pictures/ea_pembinacrossing_brochure_13002949132.pdf

Mininari · #**238** Posted **Aug 4, 2011, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebor204

According to Shindico
Westoba Credit Union is moving to old Grapes location

http://www.shindico.com/media/com_estateagent/pictures/ea_pembinacrossing_brochure_13002949132.pdf

Thats disappointing. I was hoping for a new restaurant of some sorts, particularly given that the new stadium is going in at the UoM.

Some before or after meals n snacks...

Winnipegger · #**239** Posted **Aug 4, 2011, 8:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebor204

According to Shindico
Westoba Credit Union is moving to old Grapes location

http://www.shindico.com/media/com_estateagent/pictures/ea_pembinacrossing_brochure_13002949132.pdf

How lame. I agree, with the new stadium going up near by, I was hoping for an Olive Garden.

Boreal · #**240** Posted **Aug 4, 2011, 8:41 PM**

Pembina Highway used to be home to the two coolest McDonald's I've ever seen. That one with the caboose, or train car or whatever at Pembina and Bishop, and then the log cabin location at Pembina and Dalhousie south.

Anyways... the thread was chain restaurants, and I just thought of it...