Staff
Family, friends, and well-wishers alike gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday afternoon to kick off construction of the Boston Pizza restaurant on King’s Highway just west of the Super 8 Motel here.
Local franchisees Dale Fortes and Elizabeth Leishman-Fortes, along with their four-year-old daughter, Isabella, were on hand for the occasion.
They were joined by about 30 people, including the mayor and several councillors, town officials, local business owners and professionals, and contractor Platinum Construction Corp., as well as representatives of the Rainy River Future Development Corp., Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, and Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, among other organizations.
“We are happy to come home,” Fortes said during a gathering at the Super 8 Motel prior to the ceremony.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity to bring the business to Fort Frances, the community and tourists alike,” he added.
Construction at the site will begin shortly, with a tentative opening date slated for Oct. 19.
The 5,400 sq. ft. restaurant will feature a large dining area, sports bar, patio, and a full menu with more than 100 items.
Boston Pizza Fort Frances will create 75-100 new jobs, and will host a job fair this summer for both full-time and part-time positions.
According to the company, Boston Pizza’s franchisees and staff are committed to being active members of the local community and will support sports teams, schools, and charities.
