A fresh Asian grill concept, Skybird, from visionary restaurateur Rio Infantino, is set to launch with two locations in Montreal opening in early 2025.
The new concept will combine Asian-inspired cuisine with healthy options.
The first location is scheduled to open at 248 Jean-Talon West in Montreal’s Mile End, followed by a second one at 14845 Pierrefonds Blvd.
Infantino got his start in restaurants while in high school working part time. After completing university, he went to work in different businesses like dry cleaning.
“The restaurant (foray) a came about just before getting married. I was maybe 25 years old. I started with McDonald’s. I was there about 18 months. I got the awards and everything. They trained me from the street. It was a really great experience. I really loved it.
“They took me from the street. Usually they promote from within but I guess they needed management, so I went into the upper management and I learned everything, even how to change air filters on the roof. It was just amazing.
“So from there I bought some Subways. They were almost given at that time I mean. You just have to reassume the mortgages or whatever because they were not doing well at all, but I had faith in the company. Within my span I ran about 16 Subways. It was fun, it was good. Learned a lot about leasing and franchising, valuations.”
Right after that, he started Copper Branch, a vegan chain, in 2014. The vision was to take it across North America. It opened 67 restaurants in four countries during his tenure. During COVID, it was sold to Foodtastic.
“Now we have a new concept called Skybird. It’s a bird that represents freedom and culinary experiences and it’s a fresh Asian grill. We’re taking Asian, we’re making it fresher, we’re making it more natural, we’re making it quick serve and accessible to everyone. It’s a build your own bowl format like a Chipotle and instead of burritos we also have a Banh Mi which is a Vietnamese style sandwich about 10 inches long on an authentic French baguette made with only four ingredients,” said Infantino.
The first location is scheduled to open January 7 with the second one opening six weeks later. And then three months after that, it should have the third opening. All in Montreal.
Expansion plans include the U.S.
“We could be in a mall. The kiosk size plus off site storage. Could be as small as 450 square feet or so in a mall setting. In in-line stores or we prefer end caps, a store would generally have between 1,200 and 1,600 square feet,” he said.
“We’re going to open up three to four stores in Montreal where we live now and then that will be the prototype and we’re going to expand it across Canada and simultaneously in the USA. We’re already working with some American brand representatives that I think is going to pan out very quickly. We have something almost signed.
“We’ll start with the eastern coast of the U.S. and try to go from there try to get some traction.”
Real estate firm Think Retail is handling the new restaurant concept’s expansion plans and real estate needs.
Asian-inspired dishes have seen a 20% growth in North America over the past five years, surpassing overall restaurant industry trends. Skybird’s emphasis on fresh, flavourful, and health-conscious meals positions it perfectly to meet this demand, it said.
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