When Duong Hoang and Mike Coughlan saw the space at 399 Elgin St. was vacant, they jumped on what they describe as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”
In January, the St. Louis Bar and Grill announced it was leaving its spot at 399 Elgin after 18 years of business. Immediately, Hoang and Coughlan thought about what they could do if they took the space over. They already operated the Elgin Beer Project, which shares space at 399 Elgin with nearby restaurants The Standard Luxury Tavern and Stay Gold Pizza.
“We’ve been with the landlord for 20 years and we have two other locations with the group so when it came up we sat down and really thought it over. The fact that the patio alone gets sun all day is a huge talking point for us. The last thing we want is to be standing at the Elgin Beer Project and looking over, knowing that we could have done something special,” Hoang said.
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“I wouldn’t say it’s the right time because it’s never the right time but it was the right move for us,” he added.
Coughlan said they felt an obligation to take over the space so that it would stay part of the Elgin Street vibe, adding that customers have already reached out to say they’re happy the location is remaining in the hands of small business owners.
When they initially took over the space, Hoang and Coughlan kept things quiet. But when they posted a photo of the St. Louis Bar and Grill sign removed from the front of the building to their Instagram page in early May, they started a buzz about their new restaurant that they called Good Neighbour.
“We can’t wait to show you what the team have been cooking up for the last few months,” the caption of the Instagram post read.
Coughlan told OBJ that he and his partner hope the restaurant will be your average neighbourhood bar, one “that’s easy to go to and where you’re instantly a regular.” Customer service will be at the heart of the concept, he said, to help create an inviting and laid-back atmosphere. “It’s important that people get recognized. These aren’t the easiest times to go out and spend money in, so it’s important to feel valued when you come in.”
The new space was designed by Ottawa-based Wei Sanchez, bringing a “mid-century modern decor that is not too polished but also not raggedy at the same time,” Hoang said.
The menu will be populated by “elevated, familiar dishes,” Coughlan said. It will be accessible enough so that anybody, from picky eaters to foodies, can find something, Hoang added. “Our goal is to create a menu where my mom and dad can go for dinner – my dad, who is a picky eater – and they can find something they’ll love.”
“If you’re an Instagram foodie, you’ll gravitate to fun things we’ll do. We’re planning on adding luxury elements and making it more approachable,” Hoang continued, adding, for example, that patrons will be able to add truffles to various menu items and try caviar at a lower cost.
Coming up with the name was arguably the most difficult and easiest decision throughout the whole process, Coughlan said. The partners kept brainstorming ideas to no avail and even walked around New York City to get inspiration for their latest project. Out of the blue, Coughlan suggested Good Neighbour and it stuck.
“It was instant. It’s like naming a kid. You just know,” Coughlan said.
In a time where both newer and legacy restaurants are closing all over the city, Hoang said he’s excited to create new jobs and put together a great team.
“It’s nice to have such a good team off the hop. For some reason, people are coming to us. We have experienced people who are working at other great places and want to split their time between the two places,” Hoang said.
“It’s almost like the name itself creates a good vibe,” Coughlan added.
As they look forward to opening at the end of June, they said the Elgin Street community has been nothing but supportive.
“As soon as we announced that we were opening Good Neighbour and the location, the city was excited and it’s genuine excitement, too. That’s something we are really using as fuel as we’re trying to get this open on time,” Hoang said.
Hoang said there is something special about being a part of the community and giving back to it.
“At the Standard, we see people who have met here, went on their first date here and now they have children that go to Elgin (Street) Public School. Within a blink of an eye, those kids are going to be 19 and 20 and here for a beer. It’s just the things that we cherish. It’s a sense of pride,” Hoang said.
