Ottawa-based Indian restaurateur Shafali Group has applied for a license to open a new wine bar in the Byward Market.
The new bar would be located at 198 Clarence St., where the Shafali Group already owns a two-storey building.
The proposal filed with the city states that the intention is “to operate the facility on the ground floor of the building with the second floor to be used for special events such as private bookings and wine tasting events.”
Gias Salim Uddin, CEO of the Shafali Group, says “there are only a handful of wine bars in Ottawa, and we really think it’s something that Ottawa needs more of.”
Some Ottawa residents, however, have expressed concerns about adding yet another bar to the Byward Market.
“Even though it fits in with the current demographic, I can’t see it bringing anything distinctly new or beneficial to the place,” says Carleton University student Ben Smith, who frequents the downtown destination.
“Unless the wine bar was really exclusive or fancy, it’ll just fall into the mix. They would be better served for the balance to bring in a novel business,” he says.
According to the planning documents filed with the city, the bars owners are hoping to attract a lot of walk-in traffic.
Uddin says that they chose the Clarence Street location, away from the centre of the market, for a reason.
“You don’t want to have a classic wine bar in the middle of a very busy street. This is more quiet and the location will make the wine a bit cheaper.”
But Fritz Giese, another Carleton student who enjoys the nightlife, thinks the wine bar will be too far away from “all the action.”
“Being located on the corner of Clarence and Cumberland, I probably wouldn’t go there unless they come up with something really interesting,” he says.
“A wine bar sounds like a good idea, but I pretty much feel like the market already covers all of my needs.”
The Byward Market BIA has received the proposal, but aren’t willing to comment on the matter until it has been discussed at the next board meeting in April.
The Shafali Group opened their first restaurant in 1996 and now owns three restaurants and a café in Ottawa.