Saugeen Shores residents have a new restaurant choice.
The Swiss Chalet/Harvey’s combo restaurant officially opened Monday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
However the facility was opened to some customers, by invitation only, on Saturday, where the staff was put through their paces in preparation for today’s public opening.
Owner of the restaurant, Marcel Legault tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the restaurant is a new concept for the company with only a handful of similar restaurants in operation anywhere.
Legault says they have 100 per cent of the Harvey’s menu and 80 per cent of the Swiss Chalet fare.
He says a customer who comes into the building on Goderich Street in Port Elgin, in front of the Dollar Tree store, and orders Swiss Chalet will be able to dine in with food brought to the table on a plate with silverware.
The restaurant will seat 74.
Legault says food can be ordered by phone or online for pick-up as well.
His goal is to eventually set up a home delivery service.
On a personal note, Legault says he’s happy to be back in the service industry in Saugeen Shores.
For almost ten years, Legault was the owner of the Independent Grocer outlet in Saugeen Shores .
He says the new venture has been a positive change for him.
He admits that perhaps he was becoming a little complacent with the grocery business and a change was needed.
Legault enjoyed serving one term as Saugeen Shores councillor as well and although he ran in the last election, he did not win.
He says the extra time he has now will allow him to focus on the investment and find new ways, through the business, to give back to the community.
The new Harvey’s/Swiss Chalet restaurant provides close to 40-jobs for local residents and Legault suggest that number may climb to 50 during the summer months.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM and provides a drive-thru service as well.