Canada to get a taste of Newfoundland

ST. JOHN’S—Everyone loves Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders. And packaging the province to the rest of the country shouldn’t be a hard sell.

With that in mind, Kathy Barbour, one of the owners of Ches’s Fish and Chips five locations, and Brenda O’Reilly, co-owner of O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub, have decided to franchise their businesses.

The pair formed a new company to franchise both concepts in one building, with the goal of taking it across Canada, under the slogan “Newfoundland Time.”

For now, Barbour and O’Reilly are looking for a franchisee to buy into the combined fish and chip shop and pub for the Conception Bay South or Mt. Pearl areas of, west and south of St. John’s.

“I have always wanted to franchise O’Reilly’s. Our goal for the operation is to have five to six locations open in the next few years. We’ve had interest outside of the province,” said O’Reilly, referring to a possible location in Cambridge, Ontario.

Anywhere in Canada is of interest, but O’Reilly is particularly interested in opening a location in Fort McMurray, home to many Newfoundlanders working in the oil sands of northern Alberta.

Barbour said that it makes sense to combine the two operations in one package, each offering a little slice of Newfoundland culture.

“Wherever you go (in Canada), there will be some Newfoundlanders. It would be nice if we can bottle that for everyone,” she said.

Newfoundland Time outlets will have a larger O’Reilly’s on one side and a smaller Ches’s on the other, with seating for about 20, said Barbour. O’Reilly’s would also offer the Ches’s menu.

Barbour and O’Reilly have been friends for years and they both have the business expertise for franchised expansion, but Barbour admits that it was her friend’s idea.

Ches’s will celebrate its 60th anniversary in business in 2011, and the third generation of Barbours is now in the business, which was started by Barbour’s father and mother in 1951.

Founded in 1995, O’Reilly’s is a traditional Irish pub, serving pub fare and featuring live music, while Ches’s offers fresh and local fish and chips.

The combined outlets will be in the range of 4,500 square feet, with signage for both restaurants.

“We’re trading on the fact that we are a Newfoundland brand,” Barbour said.

Mary Brown’s and Jungle Jim’s are two other Island restaurant chains that have successfully franchised outside of Newfoundland and Labrador.