Ribs and more on menu when Baton Rouge opens in Halifax this summer
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Fri, Jan 7 - 4:54 AM
The competition for rib lovers’ dollars will be sizzling this spring with the opening of a Baton Rouge restaurant in the Morse’s Tea building on the Halifax waterfront.
Three experienced entrepreneurs — Maxime St. Pierre, Leo Salloum and Shayan Safaei — are partners in the franchise.
St. Pierre said Thursday that Salloum and Safaei will handle day-to-day operations at the new restaurant while he is involved as an investor.
"This is much more than a rib joint, and we have great plans for the space," St. Pierre said in an interview.
"We want to preserve the historic building’s unique features."
The Baton Rouge restaurant will occupy about 6,000 square feet, mostly in the first two floors of the historic building, which is owned by Starfish Properties of Halifax, he said.
Baton Rouge operates at 29 locations across Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
The chain is part of Imvescor Restaurant Group Inc., based in Moncton. The restaurant specializes in ribs, steaks and seafood.
"The Morse’s Tea building has deep roots in Halifax’s history and we will make sure to honour its rich heritage by serving Morse’s Tea to all our guests," Kevin Friesen, chief operating officer with Baton Rouge restaurants, said in a news release.
St. Pierre and Salloum are business people who are active members of the Halifax community. Safaei has managed 12 successful Baton Rouge locations over 12 years.
Imvescor Restaurant Group was started in Shediac, N.B., about 40 years ago and is known in Atlantic Canada for its Pizza Delight franchises and corporate locations. The company has thousands of employees working in various branded restaurants across Canada.
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brison married St. Pierre in 2007.
(
bpower@herald.ca)