Old bank building site of swank new bar, eatery
The partners
The project is the brainchild of
Chad Blake and Austin Tran, who have been working on it for two years.
Blake, whose career includes stints in Miami, Las Vegas, the Caribbean and Europe, will serve as general manager and VIP services director.
Tran, operations and finance director, is president of the Rayacom Group, which provides printing services throughout Western Canada. Partners they brought in include
Aileen Huynh, restaurant general manager, and Ray Yue, investment and venture capital director.
Executive chef will be Paul Greene, who has worked at Madison’s Grill, Dante’s Bistro, Century Grill and Lux Steakhouse and Bar.
Operations manger is Vegastrained Ricky Hill, who has worked in a number of local clubs.
Hey, take the carriage
Parking shouldn’t be a problem,
A new restaurant and lounge costing more than $2.5 million is scheduled to open on Jasper Avenue this spring.
The Treasury Vodka Bar and Eatery takes over the space on the corner of Jasper Avenue and 100th Street vacated by the TD Bank.
“It’s a massive project,” says Sean Farmer, marketing and promotions manager. “We’ll have a total of about 14,000 square feet. We expect to hire some 200 employees.”
On the main floor will be 12 liquor outlets; a 1,000-bottle champagne tower and a hidden-speaker sound system capable of producing enough music to fill a concert hall. “There will be a separate VIP entrance and four VIP lounges,” says Farmer. “There will be seating for more than 200 people and a standing capacity for between 550 and 700 people.”
Downstairs will be the The Gariepy, a wine and oyster bar serving more than a dozen types of oysters.
There will also be a store on the lower level, selling date-type items, such as cigars, makeup, nylons, toothbrushes and toothpaste, Tums and of course condoms. says Farmer, who created Edmonton’s Beerfest. “There are nine parking lots within a block of us,” he says. “We’re also considering introducing a horse and carriage service to bring patrons from their vehicles.”
The Treasury has modular furniture, which can be rearranged for parties and dancing.
The bank’s two former vaults — weighing 8½ tons — will be used for refrigeration and storage.
The food? “We will of course have everyone’s favourites on the menu, from steak medallions to salmon,” says Greene. “But what is really popular now is sharing-food, such as tapas, caviar and cheese plates.”
The Treasury has already had inquiries from such groups as the Grey Cup committee — Edmonton hosts the Grey Cup this year — and the Edmonton Oilers.
Time-machine trip in Ireland
A chance to live in a 15th century Irish castle is on the auction block Saturday at the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Ball at the Sutton Place Hotel.
“Ballyhannon Castle is one of the last intact medieval Irish castles,” says Colm O’Carroll, president of the Edmonton chapter of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce.
“The five-storey structure has six-feet-thick, battle impenetrable walls, a winding spiral staircase, oakbeamed ceilings and flagstone floors. It comes with a dungeon.”
O’Carroll created the local Irish chamber and was in Calgary to help set up theirs when he got talking to a Calgarian about the castle.
“The castle is a recorded monument and protected by the Irish government,” says O’Carroll. “But the present owner has opened it up as a rental, self-catering castle.
“We are offering nine people the chance to stay for four days.
“The castle is just as it was 600 years ago, but it has been carefully furnished with antiques. Modern conveniences and appliances have also been sensitively installed.”
The ball supports the Wild Geese Endowment Fund, which will help U of A students study in Ireland.
It also supports Edmonton’s Feis, an Irish dance competition that sends the winner to compete at the world championships in Ireland.
Another auction item: Four tickets to the U2 concert on June 23, with a limo ride from any Sherlock Holmes pub.
Tickets for the ball: 780-4580810