Downtown Buzz News from the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone SPOTLIGHT


found the right space. “We looked at a ton of different spots,” says co-founder


Nuburger W


Marc Priestley. “You kind of just know it when you feel it.” After looking at numerous neighbourhoods and various


venues, Nuburger found its second home among the big- box destinations of Kenaston Boulevard. Shortly after, Nuburger was approached by the team at


Te Forks to visit its recently renovated vacancies, and they got that familiar feeling. “Tey’re really doing a lot of improvements there,” ex-


plains Priestley. “It’s a really fun spot to be and I think a lot of Winnipeggers are realizing that too.” Nurburger is nestled right next to one of the biggest


draws of Te Forks’ new look – Te Common. Offering 20 craft beers on tap, many of which are local, and 20 wines, Te Common has a liquor licence for the entire main floor at Te Forks, meaning people can flow freely among the shops, food kiosks, and all seating with a drink. “Tere are a lot of people that come down to Te Common and end up seeing us and thinking about a burger,” admits Priestley. Nuburger has found the style of dining and clientele


Te Forks attracts complements its local burger experi- ence well.


Nuburger's newest location pops up in The Common area at the Forks. “When we first opened the original Nuburger, we


thought it would be a really young demographic, but it reaches everyone,” explains Priestley. As one of the larg- est tourist attractions in Winnipeg, Te Forks welcomes around four million visitors annually, so having that mass appeal is paramount. A tip they picked up from their Kenaston location was to offer kids’ meals, mak- ing their decadent burgers ever so much more inviting to families. Plus, as one of the first local restaurants to provide a


fast-casual atmosphere, Nuburger lives in that middle ground between sit-down restaurant quality service and food, and fast-food speed – an ideal concept for a kiosk. Perhaps even more pointedly, Nuburger shares Te


Nuburger Located in the Food Hall at Te Forks, 1 Forks Market Road


hen Nuburger was seeking to expand beyond its flagship location in Osborne Village, the owners were searching for a feeling they’d get when they


dors, and creating a uniquely Winnipeg feel. Sourcing meat from free-range, hormone-free local farms; home- made bread from Stella’s with all-natural ingredients; and using Bothwell Cheese and even local mushrooms for the content of its burgers, Nuburger incorporates local vendors in every possible aspect of its business. “We’re so all about local,” says Priestley. “And what’s


more local than Te Forks? Tat’s the place that people think of when they think about Winnipeg.” Having already built a reputation in Winnipeg, it hasn’t


taken long for Nuburger’s latest location to pick up steam. “It feels like it’s getting busier every day,” says Priestley.


“We’re loving it there.” Find Nuburger in the Food Hall at Te Forks (at 1 Forks


Forks’ reverence for working with local talent and ven- Market Road).


The Blacksmith Parlour is an upscale salon that caters to men's grooming needs. The rustic speakeasy-type atmosphere of the Blacksmith Parlour. SPOTLIGHT


neering sector by day. Te transition wasn’t always seamless – sometimes evidenced in the dirt amassed beneath his fingernails. Tere are only so many ways to return


to women-oriented nail salons, and they feel really uncomfortable,” says Steven Zacharuk, owner of Blacksmith Parlour, at 289 Garry Street. “I thought there was a great opportunity


for a place where men can go that feels like a man cave… so you can just sit back, have a glass of scotch, watch the game and get your services done.” A first of its kind anywhere in Canada,


Blacksmith Parlour challenges some of the typical salon customs by offering a dimly lit, speakeasy-type atmosphere where men can plug into personal televisions, tune out, and get their hands or feet tidied up by an esthetician. While women are fully welcome at Black-


smith, the usual charade of coloured polish isn’t offered at Blacksmith, as a clear, non- descript finish is favoured. Blacksmith has also recently rolled out


June 2017


Blacksmith Parlour S


Blacksmith Parlour Located at 289 Garry Street


teven Zacharuk spent his evenings in the garage working on cars, switching gears to an office setting in the engi-


your hands to a presentable state, one being a professional nail treatment. “I’ve heard from a lot of guys that they go


hair removal services including eyebrow, chest, back, and arm and leg hair treatments. Though many salons feature male-ori-


ented services or packages, Zacharuk saw a niche for a salon that was intently directed at men. Choosing the downtown location for


its high concentration of office workers, Zacharuk was surprised to find the crowd he thought Blacksmith would speak to only makes up a small fraction of his customers. “Our demographic that actually comes in


is everything from students to seniors, and construction workers to doctors,” he says. As a result, Blacksmith has had a busier


start than anticipated – indicating a wider appeal to the male-driven salon. A secondary benefit to the shop’s existence


is it’s now much easier to find a gift for the man who has everything. “Gift cards have been huge,” says Zacha-


ruk. “Most guys are so hard to buy for.” Starting with snappy 30-minute treat-


ments, and hand and foot scrubs with ingredients like beer, whiskey and pine, Blacksmith cleverly informalizes its treat- ments, removing any resistance to a spa experience. Plus, a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic bev-


erage is included with each service – and you can totally order from the top shelf. For more information on Blacksmith Par-


lour and its services, or to book an appoint- ment, visit www.blacksmithparlour.com.


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