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Sparwood works to grow the restaurant business

The District of Sparwood is looking to fill what used to be the district’s engineering office with a restaurant.

The District of Sparwood is looking to fill what used to be the district’s engineering office with a restaurant.

During the 2014 municipal election, the public expressed a desire to generate more business within Sparwood, and Mayor Cal McDougall and Business Development Liaison Jude Smith feel the district’s single-story, 2,966 sq ft municipality owned building is a great opportunity for the city to meet the public’s demands, specifically in the food industry.

“The community at large really has a strong desire to have additional good quality eating or diner places in town,” Smith said. “We’re just really trying to generate some awareness from people who see it as a good business opportunity.”

McDougall reiterated Smith’s remarks, stating, “It’s been identified by the community that we would really like to see more eating establishments here.”

The desire for additional restaurant or dining facilities within the community was established through the Official Community Plan (OCP) consultation process and the Business Retention and Expansion survey.

Smith noted that during the summer, Sparwood brings around 20,000 people in each month to visit the Titan Truck.

“There’s a huge opportunity to capture some of those visitors and get them to spend more time in the town,” he said.

And while Sparwood is open to all business models, their initial focus is on independent restaurants that Smith believes fit into the heart of the community.

“Council is very keen on diversifying the economy,” Smith noted, adding that presently, several locals travel elsewhere for restaurants. “You get a different type of feel from an independent restaurant.”

“A good local restaurant I think would be a good fit there,” McDougall added, “[but] we don’t want to restrict any other business opportunities or ideas.”

Business proposals for the space, which includes a garage, parking spaces and wheelchair access and is located at 156 Spruce Avenue, will be accepted by the city until 4 p.m. on January 16, 2015. For more information, contact Jude Smith at jsmith@sparwood.ca