By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Matt and Jackie Rolleman are no strangers to the restaurant scene in Wilmot Township. They are now back in a big way as owners of the Imperial Market and Eatery.
The pair have an extensive background in the food industry, including 15 years at the helm of EJ’s in Baden until 2016 and New Hamburg’s Peel Street Bistro. After EJ’s was sold, the pair ran a Pita Pit in town for a few years and bought a restaurant in Cambridge they still own and operate today.
“It used to be called Café 13 and now it’s called 13 Food and Beverage in downtown Galt,” said Matt Rolleman. “We are also part owners in the Peel Street Beverage Company.”
Matt Rolleman grew up near New Dundee while Jackie Rolleman is from St. Agatha, and the pair both went to Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School before attending post-secondary schools in Guelph and Kingston respectively before coming back to Wilmot.
Purchasing the Imperial was on their radar for a little while but it did take some time to pull the trigger.
“We had talked to the previous owners. Actually, they had approached us and we had minor interest then but our brewery is right next door. We had dined there previously but we started going there more often,” Matt Rolleman said. “We realized they had developed a nice little business there. The staff was quite good, they had a great chef, the manager was doing a great job, as was the support staff.”
The couple then realized it was a good opportunity for them, and the solid core structure was too tough to overlook.
“The staff is all there and we want and hope they will stay with us because they are all really good at what they do,” Matt Rolleman added. “Our goal is to roll on with who’s there, let the chef be the chef he is and let the front house manager keep doing a great job.”
Jackie Rolleman explained they were looking to get back into business in New Hamburg, the community they live in, right on Peel Street.
“We have a lot of connections around here and the timing just worked out right,” she said.
The pair are looking at making some minor changes in the future, including extending the establishment’s hours.
“Right now, it’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays and it closes relatively early in the evening so we are looking to increase dinner business over time. It won’t happen overnight and we don’t want to force the staff to work extra hours and overtime. The long-term goal is to be open seven days a week by next summer,” said Matt Rolleman.
He added the staff has been consulted about the idea and they all seem to be receptive. The previous owners had international food nights which Rollemans may carry on with, and they are also looking at more live music on the patio.
“I’m not sure anything will happen for the rest of this summer and fall, but we would definitely, next summer, like to utilize the patio with more live music. We need to figure out what date works for us if it’s Sunday afternoon or Thursday evening – nothing too late as we respect tenants who are living in the building,” Matt Rolleman said.
In years past, New Hamburg was famous for the Waterlot Restaurant and Inn, which was built in 1847. The number of eateries has grown in recent years, something Matt Rolleman said is putting the town back on the map as a destination.
“Just looking at what’s been happening downtown, the Waterlot is being totally renovated, so Adam Brenner will be moving back in, and there will be more people living upstairs in the apartments. Above Cook’s Pharmacy is being renovated and the old mill is fundraising for a renovation.”
He added Puddicombe House is also bringing people to the town along with a Portuguese bakery and MeMe’s Café.
“It is starting to become a destination like it was 30 years ago and I think there is an opportunity to bring it back,” Matt Rolleman said. “I think about the days I was a busboy at the Waterlot and on any given night, it would be full of people going to the Stratford Festival.”
Matt also has fond memories of the Golden Hammer and Edleys, where the current Imperial is located.
“It would be fun to have, not the raucous parties, but having that activity downtown again. It would be great. If we can help facilitate that, we will,” he said.
Matt and Jackie Rolleman are busy working on a fall menu that will also include new cocktails and a wine list.
“We are excited to be downtown again and back in the community,” he added.
コメント