Serendipity

I have always believed opportunities come your way if you are aware and follow the clues given. Shannon and I had been looking for a business to start for about a year. First we had created a very detailed business plan for opening a restaurant/nightclub. That project got as far as securing a location and getting a major investor. It fell apart for us when we realized that the location might not be what we really wanted. So we walked away from that project and found a new opportunity in a new building in MaCrae. We again progressed fairly far with this project only to have the plug pulled on us. This is where serendipity stepped in.

It was a Tuesday night when we found out our latest project was over. We immediately were discussing new options and new directions and decided to go for a drive to Carcross corner to check out the building that had been under construction there for years. It was a weird night. It was mid October and unusually foggy. We started down the highway and almost turned around because visibility was so low. We arrived at the building and had to keep the vehicle lights on because it was so dark and the fog was so thick. Shannon commented that she could smell fresh saw dust so something was happening. We heard a voice and the owner of the building Mike came out to find out what we were doing. We immediately started a conversation with him, he offered to show us the building. I told him I owned Burnt Toast and we were looking for a new place to open a restaurant. It was a very natural and easy conversation and  literally ten minutes later we had a tentative deal to lease Mike's building. The old adage that when one door closes another opens is so true. Within hours of losing one deal we had a new and better deal. For me it is proof that serendipity is a real thing and we should always pay attention to clues as to what direction our lives should take and also it is proof to me that you should never let set backs actually set you back. Setbacks are just direction changers letting you know that the current path my not be the right one so look for a different way.

The Vision

Starting a restaurant is exciting. We are starting something that hasn't existed before therefore it is a completely blank slate. We were thrilled to find the location. Carcross Corner used to be a hub for people who lived outside of Whitehorse. There was once a restaurant at this corner that served the surrounding rural area but it has been closed for years now. We were lucky enough to meet Mike Brown who is a 60 year old born and bred Yukoner. His family has been in Yukon for generations. His Grandfather is T.C. Richards who has a building in Whitehorse named after him.
Mike's building at Carcross corner has been under construction for 15 years. Mike did it on a shoe string. He did a lot of the interior by scavenging and sourcing wood from around the Yukon. The bar top for example, is a huge single piece of fir that has been refinished and looks amazing.
Mike's father once owned the storied Whitehorse Inn. He now holds the rights to that historic name so he has named his building the Whitehorse Inn. We have named our restaurant The Cutoff Restaurant and Pub at the Whitehorse Inn. The interior of the restaurant is going to be a mix of  Yukon history especially the history of the Alaska Highway that goes by the building. It will also have some modern contemporary touches with the décor and food presentation.
We have been sourcing equipment and furnishings from Calgary and have hired Dinah Gaston to source these things for us. Dinah is soon to be opening a second location of her Calgary store in Whitehorse. Her store is called Mid Century Dweller and her new location is in the building where The Wheelhouse Restaurant is. So the work continues to get this restaurant ready for business this coming summer.

Opening a new restaurant

I decided to start a blog to journal the process of opening a new restaurant. I already own a restaurant in Whitehorse. I have had it for 3 years now and it is quite successful. My life and now business partner Shannon and I are now opening a new restaurant just outside the Whitehorse city limits. Shannon is an RN who has put her nursing career on hold to realize a dream of having a restaurant and pub.
We have secured a location and now are in the process of building the restaurant. This blog will follow the process and pitfalls of this undertaking.