Winnipeg | Restaurants

[Reed Solomon]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

subway leila is 24/7

Seriously?

[1ajs]

downtown needs a 24hr restraunt though we do have a 7day a week open till 5am place at main and pacific thats new and good food!

4am dimsum hmm

[kylbaz]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Subway is not my favourite, but their cookies occasionally go down well. Quiznos is a much better sandwich joint in my opinion, as far as chains go.

Quiznos was really good. They really cheaped out on their meat over the years.

[kylbaz]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

just saw this, interesting...

Modern Taco Company - opening soon on 612B Academy Road, it's a Chef Rob Thomas place. right by the base of the st. james bridge. i think there's a pizza chain there now

www.moderntacocompany.ca

Looks good. Can't wait for a new taco restaurant in the east end.

[wags_in_the_peg]

just heard that after 90 yrs, KELEKIS on Main is closing end of Jan 2013.

[Biff]

^^^ Oh wow! That is really too bad if true. Loosing the Wagon Wheel and Kelekis in one year is sad. I am one of those people who understand that things can't go on forever, and that sometimes family doesn't want to keep the business running, but this news is really too bad.

[Riverman]

Must scarf down some Kelekis hot dogs next week.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

just heard that after 90 yrs, KELEKIS on Main is closing end of Jan 2013.

Meh.

I have been a couple of times. I find the food there pretty mediocre.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

just heard that after 90 yrs, KELEKIS on Main is closing end of Jan 2013.

Statement from the Kelekis family:

"THE END OF AN ERA

Today the Kelekis Family announced that their family restaurant will be closing as of January 30th, 2013.

This announcement is made with regret after 81 years at the same location.

But times have changed and Mary will soon be celebrating her 88th birthday and she finally deserves a break from the daily routine.

Over the years so many wonderful people have passed through our restaurant. Many people began their working careers with us as servers and bussers and have gone on to reach great things in their lives.

So many friendships have been forged with customers that this is a very hard thing to contemplate. We will miss all the contacts and the conversations with all of you.

And the Kelekis sisters will stand in people's minds as industrious and welcoming and a friend to all who frequented their restaurant.

Come and see us before we close the doors at the end of January we are still there for a short while. Come and visit and say a fond farewell to a Winnipeg institution.

And the Kelekis sisters will stand in people's minds as industrious and welcoming and a friend to all who frequented their restaurant.

Come and see us before we close the doors at the end of January we are still there for a short while. Come and visit and say a fond farewell to a Winnipeg institution."

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Mininari

So I made my first visit to Taco Del Mar, and the manager on duty told me that they're expecting to open as many as EIGHT by summer. That seems pretty ambitious, but it sounds like they're all being opened as Taco Del Mar - Subway duos. We'll see how many open up.

My guesses at future desired locations:
Westport Festival

If there is a Subway, even a Taco Del Mar duo location, in Westport Festival they will match the crazy high density in that part of town of Tim Horton's with three stores on Portage Ave in about a 3 km strech of road. Considering there is also a Quiznos, Taco Bell and Burrito Splendio in that same strech is there really that high a demand for that style of quick service place?

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by CoryB

If there is a Subway, even a Taco Del Mar duo location, in Westport Festival they will match the crazy high density in that part of town of Tim Horton's with three stores on Portage Ave in about a 3 km strech of road. Considering there is also a Quiznos, Taco Bell and Burrito Splendio in that same strech is there really that high a demand for that style of quick service place?

Yeah, you're probably right. Plus given their ambitious opening schedule, they may be looking to open in more established areas. Westport is presently an empty field. Plus Burrito Splendido's product is probably superior to Taco Del Mar... they're licensed too, something that the Taco Del Mars in other parts of the country are, but I guess these Taco Del Mar - Subway duos won't be licensed.

Five guys is taking things a bit slower, but steadily working away at their goal of five to seven locations. I'd guess somewhere along McPhilips for location #4, and polo park for location #5, but after that, your guess is as good as mine.

[Biff]

I had Taco Del Mar for lunch today.....it was, OK. Not nearly as good as Casa Burrito or Burrito Del Rio (or Qdoba/Chipotle). Cheaper but smaller, but i guess they will be more accessible than those. Much better than Taco Bell however.

[Jack1983]

I noticed that Brandon has a Qdoba opening up on 18th street. Could be coming to Winnipeg soon as well.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Five guys is taking things a bit slower, but steadily working away at their goal of five to seven locations. I'd guess somewhere along McPhilips for location #4, and polo park for location #5, but after that, your guess is as good as mine.

I agree those are both target markets but I suspect McPhillips is far down the list. At least that is how it seems to be for other retailers.

Something in the SHED could be a a strong location, perhaps one of the St Regis parking lots?

A north-east location (think Chief Peagus Boston Pizza) seems like another strong possibility, perhaps in the development at Henderson and the Perimeter?

A St Vital mall area location would also definitely make sense as that is one of the busiest retail areas.

Finally, a Seasons of Tuxedo location would also make sense due to the traffic it will draw long term. Seeing the number of names on places in the phase 1 development it would be surprising to see them there but perhaps in phase 2?

[SKYSTHELIMIT]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I also heard that those lots will be used for the grade separation whenever that gets built.

Ps First Post!

Welcome aboard bomberjet, and the timeline to when grade separation, is anywhere between 5-150 yrs give or take.

[1ajs]

why do we care about chains so much what about small buisness sigh

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by CoryB

I agree those are both target markets but I suspect McPhillips is far down the list. At least that is how it seems to be for other retailers.

Something in the SHED could be a a strong location, perhaps one of the St Regis parking lots?

A north-east location (think Chief Peagus Boston Pizza) seems like another strong possibility, perhaps in the development at Henderson and the Perimeter?

A St Vital mall area location would also definitely make sense as that is one of the busiest retail areas.

Finally, a Seasons of Tuxedo location would also make sense due to the traffic it will draw long term. Seeing the number of names on places in the phase 1 development it would be surprising to see them there but perhaps in phase 2?

All good guesses. Those empty retail units at the new Safeway at Henderson / Peguis makes sense... and Geez, how could I forget about the SHED. They're only getting started with that.

Burrito Del Rio >>> Taco Del Mar >>> Taco Bell / Taco Time (blech).
I'm looking forward to trying Qboda... never been.
Chipotle... I was less of a fan last time I had it, but I was recovering from some kind of nasty stomach flu, so maybe my system was still messed up.

re: 1ajs "why do we care about chains so much what about small buisness sigh"

Unfortunately we seem to be in a phase where new chains are coming to town, and some long-standing local institutions (Wagon Wheel, Kelekis, Alicyas, etc.) are closing for various reasons... unfortunately some younger small businesses (black sheep, fresh cafe, etc) have also not made it. Its a risky business opening a restaurant, and there is some stability with brand recognition with the chains. I think a healthy city has a good diversity in both categories, and I really hope some new stalwart entrepreneurs step it up and try some new concepts. Burrito Splendido, Tre Visi's second location, Inferno's, Pizzeria Gusto, heck Shawarma Khan! Nothing beats the burgers at the drive-inns either... I'll always pick V.Js. or Dairy Whip over Five Guys... unfortunately, Five Guys just happens to be much closer to where I work.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Shinook

Is this a serious comment? I have yet to see a Subway anywhere in Alberta that is open 24/7. Maybe this "Subway is open 24/7" is an Ontario thing?

Tongue in cheek. It's actually Mr. Sub that is 24/7 here but you don't seem to have many of them compared to Subway.

There is also (from a Thunder Bayer's perspective) a severe lack of convenience stores in Winnipeg. I have five Mac's within walking distance of my house, and another 4 or 5 within a 15 minute bike ride from here. They're literally everywhere.

As for small business, they are open very short hours, so many of us can't go to them. There is a great pizzaria on my street but I can only go there during lunch. Most people can only go there during lunch. So there are long line ups. So I don't go there for lunch. I get most of my sandwiches from a deli across the street from my work but again, it's closed by 6pm. Subway up the street is open until midnight, and the Mr. Sub a little further than that delivers until 3am.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Mininari

All good guesses. Those empty retail units at the new Safeway at Henderson / Peguis makes sense... and Geez, how could I forget about the SHED. They're only getting started with that.

The SHED is easy to miss right now. It is a bunch of surface lots with proposed project, a renovation of a long vacant building that just completed and a project under construction that still seems to be in the demo/preparation phase. If you aren't a development nerd in the know it looks pretty much the same as five years ago.

There also is not a lot existing space available for new entrants to the SHED right now without net new construction. Something that actually might hurt the SHED some long term is the Credit Union Central fortress on Donald.

[Reed Solomon]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

just heard that after 90 yrs, KELEKIS on Main is closing end of Jan 2013.

yeah that's kind of sad, but I've gone there twice in the last decade. The food isn't anything particularly exquisite. But dissapointed to see the end of an institution. Wonder what will go up there instead.

I remember when the Shoppers drug mart was next door. Good times.