The Grand Cantina leaves its location in Windsor’s Ford City.
The restaurant opened five years ago on Drouillard Road and helped revitalize an area that had been in an economic downturn for years. The Grand Cantina was the first restaurant to open in Ford City in 15 years.
Owners John Alvarez and Rosemary Woods said their business is thriving in Ford City and they are relocating because they need more space.
“The neighborhood was really friendly, really supportive. To see the growth over the five years that we’ve been on this block has been amazing,” Alvarez said.
A Windsor Farmer’s Market favorite is moving to the neighborhood — Sawyer’s Craft Barbecue is taking over the building at 1000 Drouillard Rd., and Woods hopes they find just as much success there as the Grand Cantina.
“It’s been wonderful to be here, but it’s also exciting for us because we know that someone else is going to have an opportunity here to create something really new and unique,” said Woods.
And according to Shane Potvin, chairman of the Ford City Business Improvement Association (BIA), business in the neighborhood is booming.
“Ford City grew exponentially during COVID, which is a really strange time for people or neighborhoods to grow.”
He said 10 new stores had opened in Ford City during the pandemic.
The neighborhood is currently part of a revitalization project in partnership with the Ford City BIA, and Potvin said there are plans to open several new stores in the area this year.
“This year is pretty big because there are a lot of really big things happening in Ford City. Last year… a lot of things happened in the background, buildings were bought, plans were made, leases were signed. And so I think you’re just going to see things change,” he said.
Potvin, who also owns 1000 Drouillard Rd., said the Grand Cantina played a big part in Ford City’s comeback.
“When we negotiated for them to move into the space, it just felt like the perfect fit, and when they opened up I think it was a game changer,” he said.
“They’ve outgrown the space, which is a really good reason to have to move and it just means it’s a really great place for someone to move in as an incubator to do something else.”
The building’s new restaurant, Sawyer’s Craft Barbecue, has four owners, Beth Alexander, Josh Potvin, Richard Bayley and Arleigh Wise. They have had a stall at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Windsor for two years.
“It was like a perfect storm with everything coming at the right time. We were ready to become a brick and mortar [restaurant]’ Bayley said.
The restaurant serves “authentic Texas-style” food and will serve cured meats, cocktails and will have a terrace in warm weather.
“We all grew up in this area and we’re really excited that this area continues to grow and that we can be a part of it,” Wise said.
