New restaurant coming to Edmonton theatre complex

By Mike Deibert

EDMONTON—Local restaurateur Norman Campbell is preparing to start feeding people at the Citadel Theatre in June.

Taking over the space on the Citadel’s main floor that has housed a number of restaurants, most recently EastBound Bistro & Bar, Campbell will make his new dining spot—as yet unnamed—an operation covering the three meal times. He is aiming to turn it into a destination restaurant rather than just a spot for the theatre crowd to eat before performances.

A restaurant owner for nearly 25 years, Campbell is the proprietor of Normand’s and Glenora Bistro in Edmonton.

He is planning to renovate the Citadel space and have it open for an all-day breakfast in mid to late June, and to add dinner in August, with a French bistro menu. Mains will sell for $17 to $25.

He is also considering offering a three course meal for about $38, with patrons able to have the first two courses before a performance and then come back later for dessert. It beats sitting in a parking area waiting to get through a traffic jam of departing theatre patrons, Norman commented to Restaurant News.

There will be a somewhat limited wine list, with the majority of bottles selling for less than $40.

Campbell’s partner in Glenora Bistro, Cui Kouch, also has a share of the new restaurant.

Kouch has spent 16 years as the chef at Norman’s,

The chef at the Citadel will be Eric Coley, a veteran of Edmonton restaurants who is now working part time at Normand’s.

The manager will be Marianne Quach, who formerly worked in banking and finance and once owned a small bar in Edmonton.

Located on 101A Ave. in the city’s downtown arts district, the Citadel has five theatres. Its season for plays generally goes from September to May.

 “I think it’s a golden opportunity,” said Campbell, noting that downtown Edmonton is becoming an increasingly vibrant area and will become more so with an arena being built and the Royal Alberta Museum being moved to the neighbourhood.

Also, people going to hear musical performances at the Winspear Centre will go past his restaurant providing more potential business.