A new restaurant is soon to join Niverville’s business community. This year construction will begin on a new commercial strip mall on Drovers Run, the anchor tenant of which will be a Smitty’s location.
The business will be owned by the Dyck Family Smitty’s Group—comprised of Robert Dyck, Chris Dyck, and Kaely Dyck—and the Funk Group—comprised of Brian and Valerie Funk. Collectively, they own and operate nine Smitty’s restaurants in Manitoba. Niverville’s new location will be the tenth.
“We are excited to bring Smitty’s signature hospitality to the vibrant, growing community of Niverville,” says Jim Weidinger, President of Smitty’s Canada. “The strength and longevity of the Smitty’s brand is due to the commitment of our franchise community, and we are proud to have one of our strongest and most tenured franchisees, R&B Management, lead this expansion.”
Together, Funk and Dyck operate R&B Management.
“They have built a reputable name throughout the Winnipeg and Steinbach areas, and we look forward to establishing ourselves into the Niverville community as well,” Weidinger adds. “Restaurants are a big part of the fabric of the community and we take that responsibility seriously. We can’t wait to serve you!”
Ray Dowse, one of the developers behind the Drovers Run commercial strip, also lauds the experienced ownership team behind the new location.
“Having this team leading the planning and operations of the new Niverville location, the community should be very excited as we will get to enjoy a top-notch, well-run establishment in our backyard,” says Ray Dowse, one of the. “Anyone who has visited any of their locations can see they do an exceptional job with their restaurants.”
The deal to bring Smitty’s to Niverville has been about three years in the making, with extensive work behind the scenes between the ownership group, the Town of Niverville, Smitty’s Canada, and the owners of the Drovers Run commercial development.
“These things take time, but in the end it’s going to be done right,” Dowse says. “I’m really pleased with how everything has come together at this point and excited for the finished product. It will be an excellent addition to Niverville and our region.”
The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will be located right beside the entrance to the Drovers Run golf course. It will also be positioned at the new intersection to be created at the corner of Highway 311 and Mulberry Avenue.
This controlled intersection, with lights and turning lanes, will provide a second access to the Drovers Run commercial strip, in the process alleviating traffic congestion at Krahn Road.
Dowse explains that the restaurant’s south-facing patio will back onto the golf course’s scenic ninth hole.
“One of the objectives during planning was to make it easy for golfers to meet for breakfast before their round, or stop in for a post-game drink or wings on the patio,” says Dowse. “The restaurant will also be walking distance from the new hotel and waterpark, which is set to start construction this spring. The hotel was a significant part of the planning around this project.”
The restaurant will also be within walking distance of the Community Resource & Recreation Centre.
In addition to the patio, the restaurant is expected to have approximately 175 seats, according to Valerie Funk, who is part of the management team. Management anticipates hiring a large number of local staff, with upwards of 60 employees.
Construction on the building is anticipated to begin in March, with Smitty’s projected to open in the final quarter of 2022. Details of the restaurant’s layout are still being worked out, although it’s been decided that the lounge will include VLTs, a feature which is not currently offered elsewhere in Niverville.
“Projects like this one take years of planning before construction even starts,” Dowse says. “But I love working together with entrepreneurs and businesspeople to explore opportunities and help create successful enterprise in my hometown. Niverville is a place with incredible potential, and it’s exciting to see Brian, Robert, and the Smitty’s organization make the commitment to be part of our community.”
The building which will house the restaurant is to be the final phase of this development. Dowse adds that while some of the units in the mall are already spoken for, a few still remain available for lease.
