A new bar-restaurant in London that bills itself as a “premium dive,” with $4.95 meals, will soon be setting up on Richmond Row.

Based in Vancouver, the Warehouse Group has 15 locations in major urban markets, including Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and has now set its sights on London.

The company is gutting and renovating the building at 645 Richmond St., which had housed the Mongolian Grill.

“The building will be totally transformed inside and out . . . We have been waiting to open in London for several years. When this spot opened up, we jumped on it,” said Sean Young, one of the partners in the Warehouse Group.

The Mongolian Grill shut down recently after 22 years in operation. Sources have told The Free Press the property was sold for $1.5 million to a group of investors.

The Warehouse Group was launched in 2001 when the Moose opened in Vancouver’s entertainment district and patrons lined up around the block.



Queen St. Warehouse in Toronto.

The chain has since expanded to six locations in Vancouver, and Young said demand from people moving east sparked expansion to three locations in Toronto and two in Montreal as well as Ottawa, Quebec City, Trois Riviere and Whistler, B.C.

Many of the locations have “warehouse” in the name and others are called the Dime or the Factory.

The “dive bar” concept recreates the atmosphere of an old, scruffy watering hole, Young said. “It has that look, but it’s clean. We created this category, so it’s hard to describe. You have to check it out.”

In 2009, the outlets created a $4.95 menu with all items, including burgers, tacos, salad and chicken wings, sold at that price.

It’s a challenge selling meals for $4.95, Young said. “It’s not easy. At some of our locations we lose money on the food.”

Young said the renovation work has already begun and the Richmond Row location should open in a few months.

hdaniszewski@postmedia.com

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