Fin City Fish and Chips restaurant, and convenience store opening in Inverhuron

The Fin City Fish and Chips restaurant, and Fin City Convenience Store are setting up shop in the former Cottage Grocery location, at 61 Albert Street in Inverhuron.

Franchisor Matthew Taylor and franchisee Monique Gagnon are aiming to have the store open by Saturday (March 20), while the restaurant will have a soft opening, hopefully by April 1, with a grand opening slated for later that month.

As the name suggests, Fin City Fish and Chips will be offering its award-winning Halibut Fish and Chips done with Taylor’s grandmother’s family batter recipe. The menu will also include haddock, cod and pickerel.

“We offer wraps, wings, salads and poutine, as well as many finger foods, such as mozza sticks, deep-fried pickles, broccoli cheddar bites, calamari, shrimp, and scallops,” says Taylor. “Our fish and fries are freshly-cut daily.”

“The restaurant will have a beach theme,” says Gagnon, “with a patio to the north and maybe live bands and trivia nights. I think we’ll also do well with our take-out service.”

The plan is to have the restaurant open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, while the convenience store will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., also seven days a week.

The store will have a variety of products, including milk, eggs, bread, butter, chocolate bars and snacks, as well as sunglasses, clothing, purses, shoes and yarn, along with local products such as maple syrup.

Gagnon, who lives in Sauble Beach, is a wholesale perfume distributor and will have fragrances and jewellery on display as well.

Joining Gagnon, are four servers (two full-time and two part-time), and she is still lining up two full-time cooks and a store clerk.

She expects the store and restaurant will both be licensed.

Taylor has opened five Fin City locations already, and said Inverhuron is ideal since it’s right on the shores of Lake Huron.

“We believe this is a great location to be able to serve our delicious food to many living nearby and also give them the chance to get some grocery items for convenience,” he says. “It’s right by the lake, so it’s the prefect place for some great seafood eats.”

Taylor’s first Fin City location was in Orillia and he plans to have four more open before the end of the summer.