Abbis Mahmoud’s reach into Ottawa’s hospitality industry only continues to grow.
The founder of Dreammind Group runs several establishments in the nation’s capital, from the high-end Med Supper Club at Lansdowne to nightlife hotspots like The Show and Room 104 in the heart of downtown.
Mahmoud’s portfolio has expanded in recent years, with the 2024 acquisition of Strathmere Country Retreat, about 30 minutes south of downtown Ottawa, and the newly opened Grey’s Social Eatery, which replaced Blue Cactus Bar and Grill in the ByWard Market.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
AI notetaking for meetings? It could cost you if you don’t do your legal due diligence
We’ve all been there: You hop on a video call and see that, along with your fellow meeting attendees, AI notetaking software is also there, recording, transcribing, and diligently listening
Give your home a stunning makeover—for 30 to 40 per cent less cost—with NorthCo Services
In the home renovation industry, companies don’t often see repeat clientele—but Ottawa’s NorthCo Services is a rare exception. “We have an upcoming project which will be the third one for
Mahmoud’s vision for the new Grey’s included revamping the space with custom-made furniture and chandeliers, a gallery wall and a marble bar-tops. The menu is geared toward a more budget-minded audience, with burgers, steaks and sushi.
Grey’s took over from Blue Cactus, a ByWard Market icon, on Jan. 1 with plans to open at the end of February. Speaking to OBJ on Wednesday, Mahmoud said his construction team ran into delays when renovations began.
“I’m very lucky to have my own construction team and it consists of painters, electricians and plumbers. We put in long hours, working seven days a week, 12-hour days. The building needed more work than I thought, unfortunately. Once we started taking out walls, it’s very old, so we had to change a lot of plumbing and electrical,” he told OBJ.
After the initial speed bumps were in the rearview mirror, Mahmoud had a few more before Grey’s was able to open its doors to the public.
Mahmoud planned to have a soft opening for the restaurant in mid-March, but postponed it, saying on social media that he was “striving for perfection.”
On Wednesday, Mahmoud admitted that the custom furniture he’d ordered for the restaurant will only be arriving next week. Still, despite the setbacks, initial reactions from patrons have been positive, Mahmoud said.
“People really love the food. They love the new design. They can’t believe it’s the same place because we gutted the whole place. It was a great place for a long time but it had its day,” Mahmoud said.
Now, two weeks since the soft opening, Mahmoud is looking forward to Grey’s grand opening April 11.
“I feel that we’re ready. I was going to do the grand opening a bit later, I felt that the staff (was) ready and the food (was) ready. We’re doing it Friday, April 11 at full capacity,” he said.
The event is set to offer samplings from the restaurant’s suppliers and live entertainment for a roster of VIP guests.
Amid several business closures in the ByWard Market in the past few months, Mahmoud said the addition of his restaurant will “bring people down to the Market,” with bookings already coming in for the private 90-person room on the building’s second floor.
“We’re already starting to book that out for corporate events, some government events and we actually have a few weddings as well. I think it’s definitely going to bring more people towards that way and give people more options as well,” he said.
And, when it comes to weddings, Dreammind has another option available in Strathmere. The 200-acre estate in North Gower is more than 160 years old and currently has three venues, along with 33 hotel rooms and a spa. Mahmoud said he was drawn to Strathmere for its natural beauty and event spaces.
“What really interested me was the banquet halls. It’s kind of what I do. It’s a natural extension of what we do,” he said.
He said the addition of Strathmere to the Dreammind portfolio will help him set a long-term plan for development of the property, while employing more people.
“There’s a lot of potential for future development. We have hotel rooms now, but we want to build more. We have a 10-year plan to make it a destination for everyone in Ottawa to go out,” he told OBJ.
Plans for expansion include the addition of horseback riding and other outdoor activities as well as adding to the spa with yoga, sound therapy and meditations, he said.
Before Dreammind acquired it, Strathmere had already been growing its own produce. Mahmoud said he saw an opportunity to create synergies with his other businesses by expanding the capacity of the gardens at Strathmere to supply produce for his Ottawa restaurants.
“We grow a lot of produce there and I’m able to supply my restaurants. As soon as we start growing them next year, we’re going to have a greenhouse. It’s great farm-to-table … On a sunny day, I just walk around … eating berries right off the (plant) and apples off the trees,” he said.
