Anil Verma loves the Harvey's restaurant chain.
He likes the fact he can choose exactly what goes on his burger, and that those toppings are right in front of him when he chooses them.
It's one of the reasons he's bringing a Harvey's/Swiss Chalet combo store to the Rainbow Centre. It's set to open Feb. 5, and will complement the Mr. Sub and Gino's Pizza he already owns and operates there.
“It's a very good brand,” Verma said. “It's difficult to get a Harvey's/Swiss Chalet combo, and there aren't that many across Canada.”
He said when the previous restaurant in that location closed down last year, he seized the opportunity to bring in another choice to Rainbow Centre visitors and employees.
It took about four or five months to figure it all out, but he got the green light in the fall to set up a franchise location, he said.
Verma is in the process of hiring staff right now. He's already hired a manager and assistant manager, and they are going through three weeks of training. Training for the rest of the staff, once they are all hired, begins on Jan. 31 for three days.
On Feb. 3, staff will conduct a dry run for family and friends. Then, on Feb. 5, it's full steam ahead. Verma said he has invited the mayor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Swiss Chalet will have a limited menu, with more take-away food like wraps, the half-chicken and quarter-chicken dinners, he said, but Harvey's will have a full menu.
“We've had signs up in the food court as renovations are going on, and it's created a lot of interest,” Verma said. “People are always asking me when it's going to open.
"There are three weeks to ago. It think it will do really well. I have a 10-year lease, and I know it's going to be successful.”
Business is doing well at both Gino's and Mr. Sub, he said, although it's been a bit tougher for Gino's because people tend to forget about the delivery services and the fact it's open until 11 p.m.
