Compendium of Restaurant Openings

Five Guys Burgers Opens Second Location

Five Guys Burgers has now opened their second location at 2425 Pembina Highway. The place has an old school feel to it and the burgers are quite good. If burgers aren't your cup of tea, there is Papa John's next door in their second location for the city of Winnipeg.

The pizza wars continue in Winnipeg. Pizza Pizza is opening a Charleswood location in the former location of Body Sculpture by Lynn. Little Caesar's is right next door practically.

In the Charleswood Mall, Subway has opened where Quizno's was located.

Parents, if you ever wonder where your kids are during the summer, it is a good bet they are in the McDonald's parking lot at the Charleswood Mall. A whole herd of them this week.

Heading back to Pembina Highway, final hiring of staff for Woody's Barbecue had begun last week. Location opens soon.

On Kenaston, A&W is being built quickly across from Ikea. Hard to believe no other fast food place grabbed the spot.

All the blue and yellow walls are up for Ikea. Expect the final closing of some of the gaps in the next weeks and it is all inside work thereafter. The metal framing of a building beside the Ikea is almost done. I have not heard what will be going in there but a good chance is that it will be ready in the fall along with Ikea. The piles just went into the ground for Cabela's at the back end of the site.

It seems one of the favourite thing to do lately is to show pictures of the gluttony that can be had at Famous Dave's in Transcona. It is without doubt that Winnipeg families have opened their hearts and wallets to this rib joint. Expect to see more pictures on Twitter and Facebook.

Construction is well underway on Centrepoint across from the MTS Centre. But will we have a Jets season or a lock-out? The project will not come on stream till 2013 but what will be the two marquee restaurants?

Here are a list of possibilites:

Hard Rock Cafe Winnipeg
Bubba Gump's
Rain Forest Cafe
Hooter's
Shark Club
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
TGI Friday's
The Keg
Chiplote Mexican Grill
Outback Steakhouse

There are other possibilities too.

I have a suggestion for the Red River Ex expansion: Medieval Times.

It should be noted that the recession in the last year has led to closures of a whole passle of restaurants and stores in Fargo and Grand Forks in the U.S. People who first had a taste of Outback will be shocked to know Fargo's closed. Likewise, Timber Lodge Steakhouse gone. The last of the Bennigan's closed. In terms of stores Abercrombie closed in West Acres Mall.

The main point for raising this is that Canada is better territory for some U.S. retailers and restaurants.

Famous Dave's probably could not be happier about how it has been received.

Now I know I will hear the inevitable arguments about eating local and criticism of chains. My post does not for a moment dismiss the great local fare. The best scenario for the city is a variety of places in terms of location, food, price and type of food.