Heard On The Street

Petretta Construction remains one of the busiest builders in the area with a pair of condo projects on the go as well as a hotel on Amy Croft Drive and three restaurants on an adjoining property. One of the condos is located on Old Tecumseh Road in Russell Woods alongside Pike Creek. The fivestorey Harbour Club condominium community will have underground parking and feature 64 units ranging in price from $600,000 to over $2 million. The first-floor suites will have 12-foot ceilings, on the second through fourth floors, the ceilings will be nine-feet high and the fifth floor will have 10-foot ceilings. All will have views of either a canal on the north side or Pike Creek on the south and east sides. The building also includes a fitness facility and party room. In LaSalle, at the corner of Huron Church Line Road and Sandwich Parkway West, Petretta is planning another five-floor condo, again with 64 units but ranging in price from the low $300,000s to the low $400,000s. The condos will have one or two bedrooms or two-bedrooms plus a den and range from 900 square feet to over 1,200 square feet.

Chef Ted Dimoglu has closed Tiki Sushi on Erie Street and is concentrating all his efforts on growing his business out of its new location at Mercato Fresh at 725 Grand Avenue West in Chatham. Dimoglu explained the decision on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “As you may well know, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends these last couple of weeks with the opening of Mercato Fresh,” says Dimoglu. “It’s become increasingly clear that a decision had to be made for the sake of my family, sanity and health.” Dimoglu adds that closing his Erie Street location at the end of February was not a decision he took lightly and he thanked his customers for their support. Meanwhile, business has exploded at the market and Dimoglu says he sold more sushi in his first 10 days than he did in 10 weeks on Erie Street. He plans to expand his business with more locations and may return to Windsor one day. Mercato Fresh, which sells fresh produce, fruit, meat and baked goods, is owned by Mark Romualdi, who also owns M.R. Meats and Chophaus Meats & Deli, and Jonathan Reaume, who owns the Toscana BreakfastLunch-Cafe, all in Windsor. Romualdi plans to open Mercato Fresh locations in Windsor and LaSalle within the next couple of years. For more info, visit these websites: MercatoFresh.com, ChophausMeats.ca or ToscanaWindsor.com.

A new Indian restaurant opened April 8 in the former Webb’s Steak Seafood Burgers and Bar and before that, The RyeGate at 1640 Lesperance Road at the intersection with E.C. Row Expressway. Owners of India ’47 Restaurant and Bar couldn’t be reached for comment before press time, but on the restaurant’s Facebook page, it indicated the restaurant would be serving “authentic Indian cuisine curated with only the freshest and highest quality ingredients.” The ’47 reference in the restaurant’s name likely refers to the Partition of India of 1947 which marked the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

Windsor entrepreneur Vern Myslichuk still hopes to find a solution to city zoning issues so he can open the Low-Martin House (which he purchased in 2012) to occasionally host public gatherings such as fundraisers, weddings and other events. “The problem is the house doesn’t fit into any zoning category that would allow for occasional use,” states Myslichuk. “I don’t want a complete zoning change otherwise I couldn’t live there and that’s not my intention.” Myslichuk says he assumes owners of other houses, even in surrounding communities are facing similar issues and he’s hoping for some feedback so he can show the spectacular home to anyone who wants to see it. At a recent court hearing, a bylaw charge of operating a public house in

contravention of zoning bylaws was dismissed. “Right now it’s in limbo and that’s not where I want it to be,” he adds. The 4,800 square foot home at 2021 Ontario Street, was once home to Paul Martin Sr. and his family. Myslichuk also owns Better Made Cabinets (3275 Odessa Drive, Tecumseh); Bacchus Ristorante (614 Erie Street East); Verna-Q-Lar Cocktail Lounge (614 Erie Street East) and the Shred Shop Wellness Complex (815 Erie Street East), a fitness and wellness centre. For more information, visit: LowMartinMansion.com or ShredShop.ca.

Thomson Baking Company (website: ThomsonBakingCompany.com), a successful Windsor bakery, is in the middle of renovating new premises at 1398 Ottawa Street. “There’s a lot work of work to be done to get it ready,” admits Suzanne Thomson who owns the bakery along with husband Jay. “We’re not entirely sure yet whether we will open it as a second location, or simply move.” Their current bakery, which opened in 2015, is located at 1030 Walker Road. The Thomsons began baking, keto-friendly, gluten-free, vegan and regular baked goods out of their home in 2002, before making the leap to a bricks-and-mortar building 13 years later. There is no date set yet for the opening on Ottawa Street.

Rumours that Yum! Brands (Yum.com), a global restaurant business, is shuffling its Windsor deck appear to be just that for the moment — rumours. Facing stiff competition from the likes of Mary Brown's Chicken & Taters and Popeyes, a few Biz X readers asked us to investigate if two KFC restaurants in Windsor are closing, while a new one may surface in Forest Glade or the Fontainebleau area. Or maybe the potential closures of certain locations with an older facade are just moves to a new spot with a modern look? Yum!, based in Louisville Kentucky, owns Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell franchises. There are currently eight KFC, five Taco Bell and three Pizza Hut franchises in the Windsor Essex area. Yum! owns 50,000 restaurants in 150 countries. Company representatives couldn’t be reached for comment before press time, but we are not reading anything in to this as most likely they were dealing with important COVID-19 issues. We’ll just have to try again later!

was there! was there!

Bringing you all the action in the region since 1998. To view more events visit: BizXmagazine.com

On February 28, 2020 Tabone Insurance Brokers officially opened their doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at their Windsor offices, 3012 Tecumseh Road East, Unit B, near Tim Hortons. One good sign you are off on the right foot is having the support of the city and its related partner organizations. From left are: Jesmond Tabone, Co-owner of Tabone Insurance Brokers; Keith Chinnery, Director of Membership Services, Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce; Ed Sleiman, City of Windsor Ward 5 Councillor; Paul Mann, Co-owner of Tabone Insurance Brokers; and John Newland, Sales and Project Manager, Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“International Women’s Day Honouring Women” photos by Josie Elysia.

Stella Ciancio, Owner of Stellar Design and Social Graphic Designs was on hand to congratulate Jesmond Tabone, Co-owner of Tabone Insurance, on the grand opening of his brokerage, at the February event. Ciancio was responsible for the design and look of the logo and promotional materials for her client, Tabone Insurance Brokers, which began December 2019.

Also present for this event was Biz X Sales Representative Shelley Oswald, pictured here with business partners Jesmond Tabone (left) and Paul Mann of Tabone Insurance Brokers. The men hope to employ 50 people over the next two years and Oswald is more than happy to help them realize their marketing and business goals. The brokerage can offer clients a list of comprehensive insurance solutions for home, auto, life, commercial, transportation/ logistics and group rates to meet their needs at a reasonable cost. See: TaboneInsurance.com for further details.

Tabone Insurance photos by Rod Denis.

The hall was packed on March 6, 2020 with over 300 women in attendance for the “International Women’s Day Honouring Women” event organized by the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Nicholas Macedonian Church, 5225 Howard Avenue, LaSalle. Photographed here, in front of a Mediterranean fresco, are a few members of the auxiliary, from left: Erika Szita, Liljana Djurovic, Dr. Elizabeth Taleski, Catharina Marentette (event emcee), Kathlyn Boros, Xiao Li and Vera Najdovska. These ladies are wearing fashions from Anne’s on the Avenue (1695 Manning Road, Tecumseh) and Vene Concept (14306 Tecumseh Road, Unit 3, Tecumseh). More on right page

The "International Women’s Day Honouring Women" evening’s agenda included dinner, inspirational guest speakers and a fashion show. Having a little fun in the dressing room before showcasing their outfits provided by Vene Concept, along with its store owner, are models from left: Lidia Hristovski, Duka Stranatik, Veneta Petrusevski (Vene Concept owner), Kathlyn Boros, Slavica Glisik and Snezana Djurovic.

“International Women’s Day Honouring Women” yearly fashion show choreographer Liljana Djurovic (centre) is surrounded by models ready to hit the runway wearing pieces from Upcoming Clothing (406-2175 Wyandotte Street East in Windsor). From left: Katerina Ristancev, Teodora Taleski, Aleksandra Todorovski and Julia Dragan.

Larissa Cannon (left) and Ashley Dawson (centre) from the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women, were joined by local author and guest speaker Jenn Sadai at the “International Women’s Day Honouring Women” celebration held March 6. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s events were donated to the Shelter — $1,500 to be exact! Congrats to all who helped make this happen!