A new steakhouse is going to be opening in the Shoeless Joe’s location on McKeown Avenue.
Pete Danakas, General Manager of Lot 88 Steakhouse Sudbury confirmed that to BayToday.ca on Tuesday.
“We are anticipating to open early May,” Danakas stated in an email to BayToday.ca.
“It is at the former Shoeless Joe’s location.
“So far and so good, we are excited to get to North Bay it was just a matter of finalizing the lease and finalizing the back end stuff before we can proceed with renovations but that has all been hammered out,” Danakas added.
The original Lot 88 Steakhouse & Bar, is located on The Kingsway in Sudbury. The restaurant is described as unique to Northern Ontario by offering a steak cooked on stone option.
“Our motto is it is a steakhouse with a modern twist,” he said.
"It is something that Northern Ontario has not seen before Sudbury. It is basically steak coming to you on a lava stone and it is fun, and we like to use the words fun, different and unique. It becomes a conversation piece as you are having that experience at the table."
Lot 88 Steakhouse began the hiring process back in late January but officials would not confirm a location for the new restaurant at that time.
Danakas says they will be announcing a job fair at the new location in the coming weeks prior to the May opening.
The news of the Lot 88 move into the Shoeless Joe’s location puts an unusual end to the franchise in North Bay.
See related: Shoeless Joe's to swing open again
The restaurant closed its doors in early December and last week, the landlords of the property had posted a notice in the front window of the empty restaurant claiming the local Shoeless Joe’s operators, including newly appointed North Bay Tourism Director Steve Dreany, hockey player Ron Newhook and Jonathan Blahut have broken their lease.
“On or about December 4th, 2017 you abandoned the Premises, and, since then, have not operated your business in the Premises as required under the terms of the Lease,” the statement from the Landlord’s lawyer Gesper Galati, based out of Toronto, reads.
“Furthermore, on December 1st, 2017 you failed to pay rent to the Landlord in accordance with the Lease,” Galati continued.
Calls and/or messages left to Shoeless Joe’s head office, the former Shoeless Joe’s operators, and Landlord lawyer Gesper Galati were not returned.
However, Danakas says that situation has not slowed down the Lot 88 process.
"Business is business, that is their situation we simply found what we feel is the best location to put this concept in," said Danakas.
"Whatever happened with Shoeless, that’s between Shoeless and the operators. Life happens but as far as we are concerned there has been zero impact on us."
