Last November, popular downtown restaurant, live music venue and hipster hangout Fromagerie Elgin closed its doors, much to the sadness of its loyal patrons.
Enter Kelsey Cutinello and Valerie Fremlin, who decided to take over the venue, reopening it Feb. 20 under a slightly different name, La Fromagerie.
“It was a great space,” said Cutinello, who also owns DIY Craftery & Lounge and Northern Axperts Axe Throwing Lounge in the downtown. “It kind of fell into our laps, and we couldn't say no to the opportunity.”
Instead of going with a totally new name, they decided to give a nod to the old moniker to “keep part of the heritage that's been in this space for six years,” Cutinello said.
La Fromagerie has many of the same elements of its predecessor, including the communal tables and cheese counter.
“But we've also changed things a little bit too,” Cutinello said. “We've added some smaller tables. We've moved where the stage is located. We've actually utilized the window space a lot better and put in window seating.
“We've changed a little bit of the kitchen setup and moved the bar into the corner.”
The menu has expanded too, with sandwiches (including a gourmet grilled cheese of the day), salads, cheese plates and homemade desserts. Because they carry “a great vegan cheese selection,” most menu items can be made vegan.
“You can always buy all of the cheese and take it home with you,” Cutinello said.
Because La Fromagerie doesn't yet have a liquor licence — they're expecting to get one within a few months — it's currently operating on reduced hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.
The restaurant owners plan to expand their hours and start acting as a live music venue once they get their liquor licence.
You can learn more about La Fromagerie on its website (which is still under construction), Facebook and Instagram pages.
La Fromagerie is located at 80 Elgin Street.
