Original Joe’s gets update
Darek Ziemian, owner of Original Joe’s in St. Albert, just stripped his restaurant down to steel walls and concrete floors. And now he’s putting it back to better.
“I want to make it good, better and the best it can be,” he said.
“I know the renovation is earlier than in most restaurants. Most restaurants wait until everything falls down.”
Ziemian said he was never happy with the design since he opened the restaurant five years ago. People complained about the lack of legroom at the bar and he wanted to give his customers and staff more space to move around.
Now the interior, including the bar, will receive new floor tiles and colour.
The tables will look the same but Ziemian is adding spotlights to improve the lighting above them.
He is also redesigning the entrance and will add improved electrical wiring to accommodate more laptop usage.
Even the washrooms are getting a makeover. Ziemian said he’ll be laying out glass tiles, adding new sinks, lights and mirrors.
The menu, however, remains the same.
“Original Joe’s as a company has changed, it has grown up. It changed its design, its feel,” he said.
“I like the new look, the new Original Joe’s concept, and basically I just wanted to stay ahead of the game.”
The restaurant, located at 5 Giroux Rd., is tentatively scheduled to re-open around March 8, March 11 at the latest.
And if everything works out as planned, Ziemian said they may add two more beers on tap.
Famoso opens its doors
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria opened its doors on Saturday, Feb. 16. The popular Italian eatery welcomed the first customers at 11 a.m.
Five years ago Famoso opened its first restaurant in Edmonton. The franchise has since expanded to 15 restaurants in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
The St. Albert location will be the 16th.
Famoso is popular for its authentic pizza. The main ingredients are the dough and the sauce, both made from imported Italian flour and tomatoes.
All pizzas are hand stretched and prepared fresh by pizzaiolos (pizza makers), and come out of the oven credit card thin.
Adam Carmichael, the local restaurant’s general manager, said Famoso allows customers to come in for a 30-minute lunch and to order, pay, sit down and get a pizza in less than 10 minutes.
Or, he said, you can come in for a full meal, have a beer or some wine and stay for two hours with friends and family.
Second Cup under local ownership
A local couple wants to make Second Cup the leading coffee shop in town.
Amy Issa-Sadik and her husband Sid Sadik are taking over the Tudor Glen Market Second Cup on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
The couple already owns a franchise in Edmonton and wanted to add to their business, Issa-Sadik said.
Having lived in St. Albert for 20 years and bringing up their children in the community, she said it was a natural choice to own a local coffee shop.
“It’s the service industry. It’s something we both enjoy, having our regulars, people that come back every day for the service that we provide and I like the industry and the atmosphere,” she said.
Despite the new ownership, the shop will remain the same.
Issa-Sadik said it was renovated recently and they will offer discounts to seniors, EMS, police and fire service workers.
“We hope to grow and prosper within the community,” she said.
“We hope to work with the Inglewood location and make Second Cup the leading coffee go-to in St. Albert.”
