The owners of Donaleigh’s Irish Public House and the Dunlop Street Diner are adding to their little part of downtown with a new Nashville-style honky tonk restaurant in the heart of the Five Points.
Steve Ricalis and business partner Don Kellett are renovating what had been Made In Mexico at 10 Dunlop St. E., and are turning it into a barbecue and live music destination.
Ricalis told BarrieToday it was time to put something in the location that he has wanted to do for a while now.
“I have been thinking about doing this for two years, but only on this corner,” he said. “When I heard the former tenants were leaving, I jumped at it.
"I was just in Nashville for the last couple of days and got a whole bunch of inspiration and couldn’t wait to get going.”
For the last three weeks, Ricalis has been washing down the kitchen and taking out some of the booths in order to get a feel of when an opening date could occur. He would like to see the new Nashville-style restaurant opened by January or February, but if needed, can hold off until April.
“This location has been three or four different establishments in 15 years,” said Ricalis. “Unfortunately, the whole basement was full of stuff showing just that. So, we’re just cleaning everything out right now and doing what we can to get the place ready in good time.”
There will be a stage at the front of the restaurant, while the menu will include ribs, pulled pork, Tex-Mex, chicken, corn bread and other barbecue items.
As for the large patio next to the building that faces the city's iconic Five Points, Ricalis said besides a stand-up bar, there are fun plans for that, too.
“All the signage will be going, the hot dog cart will be going and all that will be patio,” he said. “Some digital boards will be going up, so there will be advertising, but with that style instead of what is out there now.
“Sure, there will still be advertising up there, but going digital will bring the Five Points to another level."
Ricalis and Kellett have owned Donaleigh’s, located just down the road 28 Dunlop St. E., for nine years and the Dunlop Diner (20 Dunlop St. E.) for two.
Ricalis told BarrieToday he has no issues expanding to another downtown business and mentioned his feelings on the area.
“I love downtown and I think a downtown that doesn’t have any businesses, or is place no one wants to go, is a soul-less city,” he said. "I’ve travelled and worked around the world and every time I went to a city that had nothing downtown, it was a ghost town at 5 p.m.
"With the plans of more buildings going up and more people living down here soon, it’s a great opportunity for people to see what is down here," Ricalis added.
“People say there are too many restaurants or bars downtown, but nobody says that about the south end. There are a ton of establishments there as well, but I think some people like to be negative about our downtown and that isn’t right.”
With much to clean up both inside and outside of the restaurant, the fun part of christening the new business with a name is almost done, too.
“Me and my partner are still butting heads on that,” Ricalis said. “I’ve got my choice and he has his. I’ll have to stay silent there (for now), but it will be a great name, I’m sure.”
