If you have lived in Ottawa for any period of time, it’s likely you have been a guest of the Firestone family.
For generations, the Firestones have started and grown iconic Ottawa restaurants such as Zak’s Diner, Blue Cactus, Stella and Luxe Bistro, to name a few.
Known for good food, good times – and, most importantly, good service – aiming to please has been part of the family’s DNA since the first generation of Firestones opened a butcher shop (Quality Foods) on Wellington Street after arriving from Europe following the Second World War.
For Noah Firestone, that importance of service was the first thing he learned when he joined the family business, and is a trait he has carried with him throughout his career, both within and outside of the restaurant sector.
“I loved dealing with people, and found I had an affinity for service, so I just kept it going in everything I did,” he says.
Most recently, Firestone has carried the family name into a new business venture – launching Firestone Restoration in August of 2021.
Working closely with both residential and commercial clients, the company offers emergency restoration services for incidents including fire and smoke damage, water damage, mold and odour removal.
Whether it’s a family with a flooded basement or a local business owner in need of sanitation services, Firestone Restoration can do it all.
While it may seem like a far cry from food services, for Firestone, the two sectors do have something in common – emphasis on the client.
“It’s not a matter of trying to make money from people’s misfortunes,” he says. “It’s about providing a service to someone when they need it most.”
The decision to leave the restaurant business wasn’t easy – Firestone purchased Luxe Bistro in 2013 from his family, and dedicated countless hours to building off the success he and his family had created – but when the pandemic struck, Firestone decided to give the restoration business his full attention.
Taking the previous knowledge he had from working in the construction industry, building his homes and renovating his restaurants, Firestone spent months setting up his new business, doing everything from getting international certification – Firestone Restoration is certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) – to buying advanced equipment.
Matching his passion for quality customer service is his love of cool technology – which helps the company stand out from the competition.
Firestone uses a Matterport 3D camera to create a navigable digital rendition of a property and its damage, making it easier for his company, the client and the insurance companies to assess the situation.
“It replaces that 900-page report that would typically be given to clients,” he says. “It all comes back to offering the best experience we can.”
Firestone says he is excited about carrying on his family’s legacy in Ottawa, while maintaining that deep connection they have with the city and the businesses within it.
Firestone also dedicates a portion of his time to The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics Canada or FAST CANADA, serving as the chairperson for the charity. FAST CANADA funds the ongoing research to cure Angelman Syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder that Firestone’s son was diagnosed with. Since then, he and his wife have been deeply involved with the charity, raising thousands of dollars for the foundation.
To find out more about Firestone Restoration and how it can help you, visit https://firestonerestoration.ca.
