A wine-loving Cochrane businesswoman and her foodie friend have united their passions to build a new lounge and restaurant - and breathe new life into a Historic Downtown space.
A wine-loving Cochrane businesswoman and her foodie friend have united their passions to build a new lounge and restaurant - and breathe new life into a Historic Downtown space.
“It's something that goes hand-in-hand together … That's why it's a great pairing for us, ” said executive chef Chris Hartman of his venture with Vinestone Wine Co. owner Melanie Martzoukos. “Think of the best experiences you've ever had … you have those memories that are just linked to emotion.
“You're creating that moment in time for people. That's what we want to bring. ”
Earlier this week, Hartman and Martzoukos stood in a wide and cavernous room at 214 First Street West that used to be home to the Heritage House Coffee Company and Legacy Guitar House music store. Walls have been removed and countertops carried away, with a chalkboard menu the only visual reminder of the former coffee shop that moved out in December.
The unexpected closure presented an opportunity for Hartman and Martzoukos to snag the spot and start transforming it into their new prairie kitchen, which they named Fence & Post.
“We'd been looking for … a place to connect our food and wine, ” said Hartman, who spent eight years living and training in France and more recently was the executive chef at The Bear's Den in Bearspaw and at Calgary's Farm.
Martzoukos - who has run the successful Vinestone wine boutique on Second Street West for more than a decade - said Fence & Post will be decked out in refined decor with a “rustic vibe ” and will include a relaxed lounge in one area and upscale casual dining in another.
Hartman describes the menu as “modern Canadian food, ” taking inspiration from different cultures that make up the mosaic of the country. He'll also rely on area suppliers to source ingredients.
The business partners and friends hope the ambience of Fence & Post will draw different groups of guests for a “dress up or dress down ” evening, including gaggles of girlfriends, couples on a nice night out and colleagues stopping by after work. They also plan to have accessible pricing to allow people to visit often.
“It's very important to us that we have a sense of community; you'll want to spend time here and enjoy it, ” Hartman said.
“We want to have that dynamic. ”
Fence & Post plans to hold a soft opening in May for dinner, six days a week. Once it finds its groove, the eatery will expand its hours to include lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
Martzoukos said she hopes their enterprise will encourage other restaurateurs to open along the Historic Cochrane strip.
“Canmore, at one point, was a desert for dining. Now you stumble across great places, ” she said. “Hopefully, it can create a dining community. ”
“We want to be part of bringing people back downtown, ” added Hartman. “We just want to bring good food and good times. We want to be that place. ”
