Calgary-based Central Restaurants, an intimate food and drink concept created by the team behind CRAFT Beer Market, is embarking on a significant expansion despite the economic challenges and is set to open three new locations in 2025.
Toronto and Vancouver, as well as a second location in Calgary, all are anticipated to open early next year.
The first Central opened in May 2022 in Calgary in the Beltline District. Central represents meeting in the middle, with an everyday approachable food and drink menu designed for all.
“Central stands out because of the significantly smaller and more intimate ambiance and edgy decor. We’re seeing a real desire for more of this style of restaurant with a laid back atmosphere, incredible culinary menu, cocktails and spirits all at reasonable prices,” said PJ L’Heureux, founder of Central Restaurants.
“For a long time we’ve been developing it. The idea for me is I’m pretty used to pretty large format concepts and this is a smaller concept. The first location is 4,400 square feet and we just wanted it to be smaller and easier to manage and it’s basically a very cool urban restaurant concept that’s pretty fun and social. But our plans are to bring it out to neighbourhood and communities.”
Central Marda Loop in Calgary, located at 2015 33rd Ave SW, is set to open in the spring of 2025, and will feature a colourful, mid-century modern aesthetic with a 360-degree bar, vintage light fixtures, iconic artwork, and lush greenery. The 4,411-square-foot space, Central’s first ground-up building, includes a 2,256-square-foot rooftop patio designed by Modern Office of Design + Architecture (MODA). With a spacious bar, comfortable booth seating, and beautiful potted plants, this rooftop area offers a stylish spot for dining and socializing, bringing the total seating capacity to 269, said the brand.
Central Burrard in Vancouver, located in the Bentall Centre at 555 Burrard Street, spans 3,500 square feet and embraces a modern industrial vibe, seamlessly blending raw, textured elements with contemporary decor. The space will feature abundant natural light, vibrant colors, and a circular bar. The exterior will offer a 2,000-square-foot, all-season dining area with plenty of seating and greenery, providing a stylish and comfortable indoor and outdoor dining experience.
Central Ossington, opening at 114 Ossington Ave in Toronto in early 2025, will boast a vibrant, street-style grunge aesthetic. The 3,000-square-foot space will feature a wrap-around bar, glass block and concrete finishes, and plenty of greenery, along with artwork and murals throughout the restaurant, drawing inspiration from iconic musicians. The exterior includes a large year-round patio with 518 square feet of seating and a fire table to keep guests warm during the cooler months.
“The concept itself was developed a little bit beforehand and we were looking in Vancouver at the same time we were looking in Calgary,” said L’Heureux, who has Scott Frank as a partner. “The deal in Vancouver has been a long-time coming. A really great site that we liked and obviously COVID really changed a lot of things. It slowed down the process for both landlords and ourselves and we’re lucky enough to get that site in Vancouver. It’s a great site in the middle of the downtown.
“In Toronto, I spent a lot of time going to ICSC’s. That specific site came out of that. Just conversations. It didn’t really hit the market. So I was excited to get into that one as well.”
L’Heureux said there will likely be more Central Restaurants after these ones.
“We still have to prove the concept. We only have one location so we’ve got to make sure it works in other markets. But we have a great theme and I think we have a good track record with CRAFT and this is obviously a different brand but I’m excited to see how the different cities take it on and then we’d be looking to expand in those markets specifically.
“Toronto’s got the biggest population in Canada so that’s obviously one thing we like. The other thing that’s been really trick with the CRAFT growth is it’s very hard to find 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of space in a great location. And when you’re looking at 3,000 to 5,000 there’s a lot more opportunities. With Central, we have a lot more opportunities to have more locations in prime spots.”
There are nine CRAFT locations with the last one that opened in 2021 in Victoria.
“We’ve got a few things down the pipe that we’re going to be announcing pretty soon. We’ve got another location in Canada and we’ve been looking a lot into the U.S. for the CRAFT concept,” added L’Heureux.
The first CRAFT location opened in 2011 in Calgary.
