Gettin Ready For Sals

Construction is getting started on a new restaurant in Steinbach.

Crews have fenced off the area between Day's Inn and Funk's Toyota along Highway 12. Within six months, a Salisbury House is expected to open there.

Earl Barish, President and CEO for Salisbury House says it's been thirty years since they opened a new location outside of Winnipeg. Salisbury House, which has been around for 84 years has 14 permanent locations as well as concessions at the Winnipeg International Airport and Health Sciences Centre. In summer, they also sell food at two Winnipeg golf courses as well as at Goldeyes and Bomber games.

Barish says in constructing along Highway 12, they were deliberate in their attempt to build in a high profile location. He explains the restaurant will closely resemble their newest location in Winnipeg at Pembina and Stafford. That Salisbury House is about 4,500 square feet in size, seating approximately 130 people.

"The design will be very similar to the newest location on Pembina and Stafford because of the fact that is our most successful restaurant to date," notes Barish. "We thought we wanted to take that thought process with us when we went to Steinbach."

Barish says this is a project that has already been sixteen months in the works. He notes they gave careful consideration in selecting Steinbach, referring to it as a "wonderfully, positive" city and one of the fastest growing communities in Manitoba.

"When I toured the neighbourhood, I found that people obviously have a lot of pride in Steinbach," notes Barish. "Yards are immaculate, the streets are clean, I could tell that the people who lived there, their city is very important to them. And that was an important part."

And from a business standpoint, Barish says there aren't a lot of empty commercial spaces in Steinbach, particularly in the downtown area. He adds there is a lot of industry in the city and a lot of construction in the area. And, considering how successful their Deacon's Corner location was for many years, Barish says Steinbach is a positive fit.

Barish expects the new restaurant will employ between fifty and sixty people. He notes they are currently contemplating whether or not to be open 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile, Barish says in their recent projects, they have built museums inside their restaurants. Whether it is a Manitoba music museum at their Pembina and Stafford location or a Manitoba sports museum at the Portage and Parkdale location, these museums hold pieces of memorabilia specific to that topic. He notes the Steinbach restaurant will also be getting a museum and at this point it appears most likely to be one that will display nostalgic pieces related to Salisbury House but also unique pieces that represent the Steinbach area.