Gilchrist: First new Earls in Calgary in 19 years

When I was a teenager, it was a big thrill to head to Fullers on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton late at night. Sure, the fluorescents were bright, the purple and orange vinyl booths were uncomfortable and the food was mediocre, but Fullers offered a unique approach in that they never closed. To prove their point, they had no locks on the doors.

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Former Travelaire site to host restaurants, shops

The former Travelaire site on Red Deer’s west side will be transformed into a commercial development.

Tenants have yet to be announced for the property being developed by Edmonton-based Canadian Urban Ltd. at Johnstone Drive and 67th Street, but project manager Dan Gilbertson said it will be similar to other commercial sites that include a mix of fast food restaurants and other shops. An anchor tenant is expected to fill the largest of the eight buildings proposed in a concept plan unanimously approved by the city’s municipal planning commission on Wednesday.

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Smashburger chain planning more Calgary restaurants

CALGARY — Less than a year after opening its first Canadian restaurant in Calgary, the U.S. Smashburger chain has big plans for continued expansion in the market.

David Prokupek, chairman and chief executive of Smashburger, told the Herald that Calgary is a corporate market for the Denver-based company, not a franchise one.

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Downtown St. Albert: the rose in the bouquet

St. Albert’s downtown, including the beautiful and historic Perron District, is not only in the heart of the city – it IS the heart of the city. The hub of art, entertainment and local government is also a vibrant business area, with unique retail shops, professional offices, coffee houses and restaurants.

Add to that the beauty of the area – things like a riverside walkway/bike path and mosaic wall art on quaint, pedestrian-friendly streets – and it’s no wonder the downtown is a vibrant focal point for our citizens. If St. Albert is a bouquet of beautiful flowers, then the downtown is surely the rose.

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Canadian restaurants and bars a key to economic growth

Just how important is the Canadian food services and drinking places industry to the economy?

Well, take a look at some of the data.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadian restaurants, bars and caterers created 33,891 new jobs between January and August. The restaurant industry is the second-fastest job creator so far this year – just behind the construction industry.

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U.S. restaurants look north

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, one of the most popular casual dining chains in the United States, opened its first Canadian restaurant in an upscale Toronto mall this summer, at least two years after its international debuts in Mexico and Kuwait.

Business is already exceeding expectations, the chain says, raising the question of why it waited so long to enter a neighboring market that would seem a natural fit. After all, many border-hopping Canadians are familiar with the brand.

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