It’s still a town, but Sylvan Lake is gaining Cities status.
Cities Gastro Pub is scheduled to open in Ryders Square on Jan. 7. It will occupy the former premises of Fuzion Restaurant & Lounge, which closed recently.
The new business will follow the precedent of Cities Gastro Pub in Red Deer, which has operated since June 1. That’s when owners Dwayne and Darren Gauthier turned their existing Restaurant 27 and Lounge into a “gastropub” — a restaurant-pub hybrid.
Cities Gastro Pub in Red Deer serves a broad range of food and alcohol based on an international theme, and its Sylvan Lake counterpart will do the same, said Dwayne Gauthier. The restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and prepares food from scratch, he said.
“You’ve got the gamut of nachos and wings and pub food, but then you can still come in for a lamb shank or seared salmon or stuffed chicken.”
The international theme is evident from the menu — from Tokyo burgers and Mexican fish tacos to Indian butter chicken and Asian pad thai. This geographic diversity extends to the drink menu.
“We’ve got 67 beers from 34 different countries,” said Gauthier.
“The idea is you can come in and find a beer that you had during your travels.”
Renovations to the premises began Friday.
Gauthier said the plan is to combine Fuzion’s restaurant and lounge, which seated about 200, into a single room suitable for 150. The patio, which can accommodate 40, will remain.
Gauthier said there are benefits to operating more than one restaurant, including economies of scale. He and his brother also have confidence in the Cities Gastro Pub concept and were contemplating expansion to Airdrie when the Sylvan Lake site became available.
They think the town has the population to support their business, especially with the influx of people every summer. Gauthier also thinks Cities Gastro Pub will fill a local market niche that’s currently under-served in Sylvan Lake.
He’s optimistic more locations will result.
“If it goes well out here this spring and summer, then I’m sure we’ll be looking at another site.”
In addition to Cities Gastro Pub, the Gauthiers operate 27 Catering and a construction business.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com