Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 10/01) - A certain amount of privilege goes with being the most northerly Grandma Lee's franchise on the planet.

Grandma Lee's new owner Dwight Hickey spent his first week at the helm of the restaurant helping with a renovation that is part of his re-invention of the restaurant and bakery. - Richard Gleeson/NNSL photo

The restaurant and bakery in Centre Square Mall re-opens today after a 10-day renovation. The new paint, decorating and scrubbing is part of new owner Dwight Hickey's re-invention of the eatery.

"There's going to be a big difference, the appearance of it alone, it's going to be amazing," Hickey said.

He was sitting at one of the few tables in the soup and sandwich restaurant without upturned chairs stacked on it. The smell of gold and forest green paint was strong in the air.

Hickey owns and operates the airport restaurant and gift shop. A chef by training, he has catered the city's finest private and public mixers. At the moment, the catering business is on hold. Hickey is focusing on the business of simultaneously running two restaurants.

He has the opportunity to so, he said, only because cook and manager Warren Ruttle is "holding down the fort" at the airport.

The Centre Square Mall franchise is one of 40 in Canada. The Burlington, Ont.-based franchiser also has three stores in Australia.

Hickey is going to make the most of the flexibility the Grandma Lee's formula allows. "You won't find another Grandma Lee's decorated like this," said six-year employee Cindy Livingston.

Hickey also plans to introduce more Northern and 'heart-smart' foods.

"We're going to bring in some new items and see what happens, try to shake things up a bit," Hickey said.

He's working on a char chowder.

But he also plans to emphasize a staple of the franchise the Yellowknife restaurant is not well-known for: the bakery.

Fresh-baked bread and buns will be front and centre. In the move to a more upscale approach, Hickey will also be introducing a selection of coffees, including cappuccino, and hot apple cider.

Look out, Javaroma.