East Side Mario’s to get company

Restaurant to be joined by Fionn MacCool’s and Montana’s in ‘multi-brand’ location at University Plaza in Dundas

Changes continue at University Plaza on Osler Drive in Dundas, with the renovation of a former standalone East Side Mario’s restaurant into a “multi-brand” location with three restaurants.

Maureen Hart, spokesperson for Recipe Unlimited, operator of more than a dozen restaurant brands across Canada, said the Dundas restaurant is under construction to be transformed into a site that includes East Side Mario’s, Fionn MacCool’s and Montana’s. “It is planned to open in November,” Hart said.

According to Hamilton’s building permit registry, two applications were under review as of Sept. 7 for interior and exterior alterations, removing all existing interior partitions and reworking the space.

Meanwhile, there was no new information on Canadian Tire’s plan to take over the Metro grocery store location at the plaza. Final site plan approval for the conversion apparently requires a variance for removing parking spaces and construction of a sound barrier.

Some residents have raised concerns about the anticipated loss of the 53,852-square-foot grocery store.

Christian Green, assistant vice-president of RioCan, owner of University Plaza, said the company has no update on the changes at the property, including the future of an existing Beverly Tire as the service centre prepares to relocate to its own property next door, or possible discussions with the city about potential future residential development on the property.

The city is in the process of reviewing the potential for future residential development at all privately owned plaza properties in Hamilton, and is contacting owners to gauge their interest. RioCan has said it has no plans for residential development at University Plaza.

The city has issued a building permit for a two-storey, 885square-metre industrial building with seven automobile service bays at 89 Osler Dr.