Winnipeg Restaurants

[Jeff]

Well, for what it's worth, fish is usually dead when it is consumed..

[esquire]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

With a restaurant name like that, is it any wonder why they didn't survive???? What goes through some business peoples' minds really boggles me.

The name and signage was so asinine that I refused to go there on that basis alone. Unfortunately that site has been the home of several laughably amateurish and out of place restaurants (remember the Bramer auto-racing themed restaurant there around a decade ago?)... an exception was a great cafe in the mid-2000s but unfortunately it didn't last long.

You would think that such a prominent site could attract a more suitable tenant.

[headhorse]

the restaurant opening in the former pumphouse/Harbour Master building as part of the Mere Hotel development on Waterfront is going to be called CIBO Waterfront Cafe. The chef's instagram offers a sneak peek: http://instagram.com/thecoldkitchen

[Cyro]

Seasons of Tuxedo lineup growing
More retail tenants locate in south 'Peg
By: Murray McNeill

The Seasons of Tuxedo retail centre will boast a Fatburger outlet when it opens Aug. 8. The leasing agent is in talks with owners of sit-down restaurants.

Vancouver-based Fatburger Canada will open its first Winnipeg restaurant Aug. 8. The 1,700-square-foot outlet is located in the same building as three other fast-food eateries -- Subway, Pita Pit and Taco del Mar.

Chartier said the centre's restaurant lineup won't end there.

"We're also working with a couple of family, sit-down restaurants for the site. And they'll be new to the market, as well."

Chartier wouldn't give any hints because negotiations are ongoing, but he hopes to have deals finalized within the next 60 days.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...217343521.html

ps: Love Coras I guess the distance between the one on Waverly and a new one on Kenaston is not to much of a stretch. Thier seems to be enough of a population base in the SW to sustain 2 a couple of km's away. Great thought.

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by Cyrodill

ps: Love Coras I guess the distance between the one on Waverly and a new one on Kenaston is not to much of a stretch. Thier seems to be enough of a population base in the SW to sustain 2 a couple of km's away. Great thought.

On second thought, probably not Cora's since they state "new to the market" with regards to the sit-down restaurants. Nonetheless... more variety (chain or independent) is good in my books.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by Mininari

On second thought, probably not Cora's since they state "new to the market" with regards to the sit-down restaurants. Nonetheless... more variety (chain or independent) is good in my books.

I am 99% certain one will be an IHOP.........although i have been wrong before on here. Retail stuff it tough.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Biff

I am 99% certain one will be an IHOP.........although i have been wrong before on here. Retail stuff it tough.

Seasons of Tuxedo is a real tough call when information leaked so long before the build dates, ie IHOP, Lowes, AMC movie theater and Great Wolfe Lodge water park. Since then AMC exited the Canadian market, Lowes has slowed expansion here and Great Wolfe was struggling financial so expansion is likely on the back burner. I think the grocery store planned for phase 3 is also likel in peril unless it is the rumored Whole Foods or a new build Superstore to replace the Grant and Kenaston location, which itself seems prime for a T&T conversion.

In terms of Seasons of Tuxedo resturants, IHOP is a virtual lock for the Winnipeg market. Look for them also to open in WestPort Festival to get the arriving/leaving town traffic on the TransCanada. Others in Seasons of Tuxedo, TGI Friday's, Chilli's and Mr Mikes seem like real strong sit-down contenders. All have existing Canadian operations yet no Manitoba locations. Mr Mikes has even publically stated their plans for Winnipeg without announcing specifics.

[Mininari]

All good points, especially regarding the new superstore / T&T conversion idea. That makes a lot of sense.

And for restaurants, I totally forgot about TGIF (I don't visit the airport so much these days, although I'm going there Saturday). TGIF stated that they wanted to use the Airport as their 'entry point' to the Winnipeg market, and then expand through the city at a later date. THey'd be prime for Seasons, but also for those abandoned Kelseys locations... Chili's would be another good fit for those locations. They scream "chain restaurant" so some cosmetic exterior refinishing would be needed and you're good to go.

[trebor204]

Someone pointed out Qdoba Mexican Grill.
There is a location in Brandon.
Brandon seems to be a test market before coming to Winnipeg (Kelsey's, 5 Guys)

[Shinook]

Originally Posted by trebor204

Someone pointed out Qdoba Mexican Grill.
There is a location in Brandon.
Brandon seems to be a test market before coming to Winnipeg (Kelsey's, 5 Guys)

I would say in this case with Qdoba's, Brandon is the test market for Canada since there are no other Canadian locations, at least from what I could gather on their website.

Perhaps the reason for this is all the Mexican's and other people from Hispanic cultures immigrating to Brandon recently?

[CoryB]

Long term I think the Seasons of Tuxedo area will see a similar number of resturants and mixture to what is in the general Kenaston area so you can use that as a guiding point. The only duplicates I would expect are Subway, Tim Hortons, Starbucks and McDonalds which may end up at both sites.

Qdoba and Chipolte also seem like long term shoe ins for the Winnipeg market however given the existing presence for the similar Taco Del Mar in phase 1 that could be holding these back from Seasons of Tuxedo until phase 3 (aka north of Sterling Lyon).

On a related note found this quote which is the first I have heard of it:

Originally Posted by CBC Manitoba

Saigon Jon's, a local Vietnamese eatery, will open its second location this fall near IKEA.

Source

On a related note, got thinking last night that Cora's would be a likely and excellent addition to WestPort Festival. With the location on the Trans Canada at the west Perimeter you get people that are arriving from out of town or just leaving town wanting to stop for a quick bite, often early in the morning. This makes it a desiable location for sit-down breakfast resturants like Denny's (across the street at Flying J), Perkins, (further east on Portage), Smitty's (also further east on Portage), IHOP, and Cora's.

[pegcity]

Whole Foods! Please!

I am a recent converted crazy.

[rgalston]

Originally Posted by flatlander

The building that Thom Bargen coffee is in - I have to admit i've never noticed it before. Is it new, or reno'd?

It was a storefront built to the front of an old house, and the owner renovated and added a couple of floors to the front part last year.

[cllew]

With the Bomber game tonight I wonder if the Shark Club is going to be refusing entry to any patrons with Bomber Jerseys like they reportedly did for the last game?

see post 12 in the Winnipeg Construction VIII thread

[CoryB]

Apparently the no jerseys issue at Shark Club was a miscommunication. Not sure but I think the policy is no jerseys unless it is game day for a local team.

[cllew]

Now that makes sense as a dress policy, but I guess then the MPI and City of Winnipeg office tower staff are not welcome to come in there for lunch or after dinner drinks on the Friday casual fundraiser days as a lot of them do wear team colours year round. Does not depend if there is a game on the Friday or not.

[tedtim]

Fatburger wasn't that bad. Not the best burger in the city. Kinda pricey, not your everyday burger place. Specialty burger+Reg. Fries+Shake=$17. Didn't taste a fresh as Five Guys, definitely not healthier. Menu offers slightly more options and serves booze. I'd probably hit up Market Burger or Unburger before I go back to Fatburger. Too far to go from the North End.

[Riverman]

^^^ Try Sonia's at Henderson & Hart in Elmwood, not far from you. A bit of a dive but they make a darn good burger.

EDIT: forgot about this - http://burgerclubwinnipeg.blogspot.c...onyas-455.html

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by tedtim

Fatburger wasn't that bad. Not the best burger in the city. Kinda pricey, not your everyday burger place. Specialty burger+Reg. Fries+Shake=$17. Didn't taste a fresh as Five Guys, definitely not healthier. Menu offers slightly more options and serves booze. I'd probably hit up Market Burger or Unburger before I go back to Fatburger. Too far to go from the North End.

Hmm, thanks for the review. Good location for their first in the city (scooching the traffic from IKEA). There are LOTS of great burger places in this city that offer fresh-made burgers that are just as good as Five Guys, or the like. I was ranting and raving about the coming of five guys (see earlier threads), but find myself going back to the local guys instead.... its more an issue of 'whats nearby?' -- when I'm at work, its Five Guys, when I'm at home, its Zax, New York Burgers, or VJ's.

Still, I think its great to have more variety, and that part of the city didn't really have one of the 'burger stand' places... neither did south Pembina.

Not sure if anyone caught this, but I was thumbing through a copy of CIAO magazine that showed up in my mailbox, and it mentioned a Brewpub opening in the old Polo Park Kelseys location. We're going from Zero to several brew pubs.

Heh, was driving along Portage last night during cruise night, and couldn't help notice all the 'traffic' at Zax's and the new Taco Del Mar. Boy, whoever operated the burger joint before Zax was a complete, and utter MORON to be closed on Sundays.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Heh, was driving along Portage last night during cruise night, and couldn't help notice all the 'traffic' at Zax's and the new Taco Del Mar. Boy, whoever operated the burger joint before Zax was a complete, and utter MORON to be closed on Sundays.

It was a Burger Factory and was always open on Sunday nights (at least between 1996-2001).