THUNDER BAY – A Wacky Wings restaurant could open its doors in the city within the next six months.
City council on Monday unanimously approved a zoning bylaw amendment for the High Street site of the former Port Arthur Prosvita, which paves the way for the sale of the property and the arrival of the Sault Ste. Marie-based restaurant chain.
Owner Len Keywood made a presentation before council and said this would be the chain’s eighth in Ontario, which mayor Keith Hobbs “welcomed” to Thunder Bay.
“It’s way more than just wings. It’s an extensive menu and then extensive sports screens and interactive games. It’s a great quality restaurant, ‘eatertainment’ facility,” Keywood told reporters after the vote.
Coun. Joe Virdiramo asked if marketing studies had been conducted and what made Keywood certain the restaurant would succeed in Thunder Bay.
He responded the restaurant is nothing like anything already in the city and the chain has a positive track record in locations with similar market conditions, such as North Bay and Timmins.
Keywood and local consultant Don Manahan said the process of opening up a Thunder Bay location has been significantly different than in any other city, where they are usually invited and enticed instead of working through red tape.
The primary factor in what has already been a 10 month process is the zoning of the property, which is currently designated as urban residential and service commercial. In addition to the Prosvita, previous bylaw amendments had allowed for the Ukrainian Credit Union to operate on the property.
Council was told if Wacky Wings was going to come to the city it had to be at the Prosvita site, which was described as the “only prospect.”
“The square footage we need is pretty specific. We’re much bigger than your traditional pad restaurant of 4,000 to 5,000 square feet so we need a much bigger space that limits where we can go,” Keywood said.
“We still need proper access and location so we’re greatly limited in the footprint to find.”
Amendments to the bylaw were also made for the parcel of land on High Street across Third Avenue that would be used as a parking lot. In total, the proposal was seeking 106 parking spaces.
Keywood read letters of recommendation from municipal officials in Sault Ste. Marie and Brantford, two locations where the chain already has restaurants.
Prosvita board member Don Lysak addressed council in support of Wacky Wings. He said the doors to the hall had been closed for more than a year and had no revenue.
“(The Prosvita) is in quite a dire financial strait,” Lysak said. “We certainly support this venture and would hope you do as well.”
One person spoke in objection to the proposal, saying the restaurant should not receive council support after a planned youth centre did not get the go ahead last year.
The council report also acknowledged concerns from neighbourhood residents about the late night business hours, noise and having the parking lot close to their properties.
There were a handful of people in chambers who applauded when the zoning amendment was approved.
Keywood said he anticipates the restaurant employing about 100 people when it opens.
