Local restaurant in the running for $ 100K prize
A 28- year- old Calgary restaurateur is one of 10 finalists in a national competition offering a $ 100,000 prize.
Vanessa Salopek, of the MARKET Restaurant, will represent Alberta at the 2015 BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards. Salopek’s project for the competition is to expand her 17th Avenue S. W. business into a retail outlet that will also double as an extra kitchen for the restaurant’s chefs. MARKET opened in February 2013.
“Seeing how we home- make basically everything that we do here at MARKET we’re very limited to the amount we can produce given the demand that we have,” she said.
“We can move prep, baking, butchery to a second location which would free up more room on our on- site kitchen in the restaurant while also getting extra revenue through the retail side. It would bring in extra sales and free up some extra room.”
Voting continues until June 17 through the BDC’s website. The winner will be announced June 22.
“Each of this year’s finalists has provided a compelling story about how their business stands at that crucial crossroads where the right mix of vision and action can secure future growth and success,” said Michel Bergeron, senior vicepresident of marketing and public affairs at BDC.
“With her passion for market cuisine, Vanessa has tapped into a business model that supports local farmers and provides real value to consumers by giving them a wholesome alternative when dining out.”
The competition was created in 1988 for people between the ages of 18 and 35.
A second prize of $ 25,000 in consulting services will be awarded to the runner- up.