New and old: Making meals for everyone and driving sales at 84
ESTABLISHED: 2015
WHAT: Butcher and the Vegan
WHERE: 61 Barton St. E
EMPLOYEES: 10 These days, it can be tough to satisfy all the dietary requirements seated around a single table. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, lactose intolerant, peanut allergy, low sodium — the list goes on. How does a group decide where to go for dinner? Ask James Kayser. He’s had the same problem, which is what shaped his vision for Butcher and the Vegan, the restaurant he opened on Barton Street East this spring. The menu includes farm-raised steak frites and charred veggie and coconut curry with quinoa. Try a salad with chickpea “croutons” or opt for pan-seared scallops with Pernod chive cream. The options are diverse, but one thing unites them — 90 per cent of ingredients come from within 100 km of Hamilton. That means the menu changes often. Kayser, who sharpened his culinary skills working in Toronto kitchens including Centro, Picnic and Mezzetta, says that in the coming months, he wants to develop a brunch menu as well as a few late-night options.
ESTABLISHED: 1968
WHAT: Mohawk Ford Sales Limited
WHERE: Upper James
EMPLOYEES: 60 At 84, Lloyd Ferguson still goes into work every day. Well, almost every day. “We now give him Saturdays off,” says Kendall Ferguson, his daughter and general manager of the Ford dealership her father established 47 years ago. It’s that work ethic that initially landed Lloyd the role as principal dealer of Mohawk Ford on Upper James Street. In 1968, Lloyd managed 20 employees. Today he manages 60, four of which include his own children. The average staffer has been there 20 years, with the oldest having been on board 40 years. Lloyd remembers their names, the names of their kids and spouses. He still hands out the paycheques every week. He remembers customers who bought their first cars from him back when a brand-new car was $1,500. Kendall says it’s a huge part of the dealership’s success. The location is 10-time winner of the Ford Motor Company President’s Award, as well as the recipient of the 2014 City of Hamilton Small Business Award.