North Bay airport café reopening downtown
The Northern Himalayan Café, which used to be located in the city’s airport, is moving downtown.
Co-owners Laxmi Konwar and Sujala Niroula said Friday the pandemic hurt business at the airport, prompting the move.
"We need more multicultural food, more taste and more flavour and this is the flavour we are adding,” said Konwar.
“That's why we are very excited about it."
When it was at the North Bay Jack Garland Airport, it was recognized as a top Canadian airport restaurant. Then COVID-19 devastated the travel industry and the restaurant closed in March 2020.
"We even contacted Skip The Dishes and looked for other delivery possibilities, but they wouldn't go up there so we had to close,” said Niroula.
Undaunted, the pair acquired the old Union Taxi location on Main Street. It's currently being renovated and will be the new site of the café.
The owners said their goal was always to open downtown and cook traditional Nepalese food based on the Himalayan region. They said the food is quite similar to Chinese or Tibetan.
"It's a different culture in a plate," said Konwar.
"At the airport we had limitations because we had to serve the people quick. We can expand here and experiment and see what people like."
The café will seat up to 30 customers. The co-owners also want to create an elevated outdoor seating area with a lake view while at the same time hoping to bring a new vibe to the downtown cuisine culture.
"This is a perfect location for us to be and we are connected to Lakeshore Drive and connected up along (Main Street),” Niroula said.
“This is the perfect spot."
They hope to relaunch the café in October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams goes to the Bears with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.