KITCHENER — Bingemans, one of the most recognized names in food services and hospitality in Waterloo Region, is opening a restaurant in the Tannery building in downtown Kitchener.

The restaurant, to be located in the space the Firkin at the Tannery used to operate, will open "in midspring" after renovations are completed, said Mark Bingeman, president of Bingemans.

"The nice thing about that space, quite honestly, is the Tannery is such a great spot," he said.

Communitech moved into the historic industrial building at 151 Charles St. W. in 2010. Thanks to the incubators and accelerators operated by Communitech, the Tannery has become a hub for startups.

Bingemans has leased the Tannery Event Centre in the building since 2010. The upper half of three walls in the event centre are covered with digital display tiles from Christie Digital, and wired with the latest audio equipment. Bingemans caters all events held there.

When the faux-British pub Firkin at the Tannery closed last year, Bingemans jumped at the chance to take over the space, which is right next to the Tannery Event Centre.

"We didn't have to think too long and hard about it because of the uniqueness of that space," Bingeman said.

New flooring has been installed and the booths have been reconfigured. New lighting is on the way. The name of the restaurant will be unveiled when Bingeman is sure the company can secure the rights to it.

With a large restaurant kitchen on-site, the company can expand the food offerings for gatherings in the Tannery Event Centre. It will also expand its management team with the opening of the restaurant.

"Which is great because we get fresh blood in, new ideas and those types of things," Bingeman said. "And it also provides us more opportunity for existing team members to grow and explore and adapt to new environments."

Long known as the go-to place for trade shows, big corporate events, outdoor concerts and weddings, Bingemans owns a sprawling property on the northeast edge of the city that includes the Bingemans Conference Centre, a water park and a campground on the Grand River.

The Bingeman family started in the food business at 205 King St. E. in downtown Kitchener. Mark's grandfather opened a dairy business and a lunch bar there in 1938. His parents eventually took over.

"It started as a dairy bar where you could buy milk and ice cream but then it expanded into food and they got into catering," Bingeman said. "So we are back to our roots in some sense."

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The new restaurant will join a growing list of restaurants in downtown, including the Abe Erb microbrewery and gastro pub that recently opened in the Tannery building.

"I think more activities like that are going to be great," Bingeman said. "The LRT construction is nearly over and everything is certainly on the upswing, more people coming down."