A new smokehouse and pizzeria is aiming to open its doors on Range Lake Road for Yellowknifers on May 1.
Once opened, the owners of CopperHouse restaurant say their casual dining experience will fill a void in the community.
“This is going to be a place where people can come and have some craft beer and a nice wine,” said part-owner Mark Henry. “I envision people are going to walk in during the summer or sit out on our patio and have a great experience.”
The inspiration for the fusion of smokehouse and pizza came after noticing the lack of gourmet pizza in the community, Mark said, although other chain businesses have a market they appeal to, they won't do pizza quite like he and fellow owner – his brother – Paul Henry, will, he said.
Michael Hugall/NNSL photo
Mark describes their restaurant as casual dining with a family atmosphere. A 150 person seating capacity includes a dining room with a display kitchen which will allow customers to see pizza roasting in a wood-stove oven, a bar – which will feature 12 taps for craft beer featuring NWT Brewing Company products and a business area separated by a retractable barn door with a 75-inch television for businesses looking luncheon space.
One of the important agreements Mark, Paul and associate Liang Chen made was to ensure no demographic would feel isolated in CopperHouse. To ensure their agreement the three brought in Canadian culinary expert Richard Weir to help them get a better understanding of the industry.
“We recognized from the beginning that Yellowknife's market is diverse,” said Mark. “We want to create a refuge for people to feel like they are getting top notch service and food. we want to be a staple in the community.”
Henry said the menu will show the same welcoming characteristics as the atmosphere. Although a smokehouse, he said the staff is ready to treat vegetarian customers when they open the doors to CopperHouse on May 1, 2018.
“It's what the market wants,” he said. “We want to give people the options to eat healthy, it will be a part of the menu and we will not have it compromised.”
The two have opened the restaurant on their family-owned property on Range Lake Road. They have seen franchises like Dairy Queen, Mary Brown's Chicken and Coyotes come and go. But thinking back to their childhood the two were in agreement they wanted to be a add value to the community.
Growing up in Yellowknife, Mark and his brother and part-owner Paul's passion for food could be traced back to their childhood. Their father Shaemus, an immigrant from Northern Ireland was a professional chef. Mom – although not technically professional – was the culinary matriarch. Collectively said Mark, the two brothers were always eating good.
“When I was a kid I would trade my school lunches with my friends,” said Mark.“I could up-trade anything, my mom's banana bread was a high valued commodity in my lunch.”
Mark's hoping the community will recognize the smokehouse's location like he used to notice a neighbourhood bakery.
“I remember Cruz's bakery down the street and the bloom of smoke that would come out at recess time,” said a joking Henry. “Maybe once the kids of this generation see the smoke from our smoker pillowing out of the restaurant they will want to run over to get some barbecue instead.”
The restaurant will include 40 new staff employee's and the kitchen will be run by Calgary chef Simon Bentley who will try to perfect the fusion of good barbecue and gourmet pizza, said Mark.