McGavin Bread's old location has been empty a long time but that seems to be at an end. A former University Manitoba graduate is taking his London, Ontario restaurant idea across Canada and the U.S. with the first Winnipeg location in St. James. The Mediterranean/Jamaican fusion restaurant with a little bit of Asian tossed in features Shawarma and ramen and all sorts of other dishes.
At 1,400 square feet at Cavalier and Portage Avenue, it should have enough traffic and large residential base to attract people looking for variety in their restaurants in the area. The 70 store location across Canada, can expect at least one other location in Winnipeg across town in the next months. Each store employs 15 to 20 people.
Restaurants are a tough business but it looks the city has been on a sustained build up following the pandemic. The diversity of the palate reminds me of the late 1960s/1970s with the explosion of Portuguese, Greek and Italian places that opened up. Many still operate today although a generation or two is retiring so we are seeing more Middle East, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean opening up.
Winnipeg is growing and the next five years should indicate how we fit into the world. There has always been appreciation of new offerings in food and it is a primary way for many new to Canada to become entrepreneurs. The vitality of the economy depends very strongly on job creation of small and medium sized businesses. Internal trade is where Canada needs to gain greatest growth.
Taking over a space that has been empty nearly 10 years in a refurbished property with a new restaurant niche is very exciting.
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