Kelseys celebrates renovations with customer appreciation night

By Patricia Leboeuf | May 9, 2019 | Local
Six men and women hold ribbon, man in middle holds giant scissors on ribbon
On April 9, Petawawa Kelseys Original Roadhouse opened their doors to the public with a free wing night. This event marked the grand re-opening of the restaurant after renovations. From left are Business Development Manager Sameer Huria, General Manager Sandra Simmonds, Vice President of Operations Franco Tascione, Mayor Bob Sweet, Marketing Director Shannon Lawler and Franchisee Peter Corbett. (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post)

Petawawa’s Kelseys Original Roadhouse celebrated its expansive renovations with a free wings night.

The restaurant was packed to the brim with hungry diners, eager to sink their teeth into some Grade-A poultry. But before the feast could truly begin, a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 9 marked the transition between the old restaurant and the new.

“It is a token of our appreciation for their business of the many, many years that we’ve been here,” said Franchisee Peter Corbett. “We are looking forward to a busy night.

Kelseys has been in Petawawa for about a decade and a half and was taken over by Corbett in 2015. He had originally planned to renovate the restaurant in May 2019, but things fell in line and allowed him to get the work done far ahead of schedule.

“We basically gutted the inside, put in a new bar, new seating and a ... new layout in the front area, new signage and new awnings,” said Corbett. “Basically a brand new look.”

The restaurant employs between 50 and 60 people in the community.

“We just want to say thank you to the Petawawa community for giving us this opportunity to be part of the community and to celebrate with us,” said Vice President of Operations Franco Tascione.

“We are so glad to be looking to the future with our new look and design,” he added.

Mayor Bob Sweet was pleased to see the restaurant revitalized.

“I’m delighted to see the investment in Petawawa and our community,” said Sweet. “It takes a lot of courage and money to put a business in like we have here. They have been tremendous corporate residents ... and I wish them all the very best luck moving forward.”