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.
No comments:
Post a Comment