John Grouchy admits that when he used to bring his daughter to soccer events at Steve Omischl Sports Complex, that he always had to stop somewhere before making the journey to the end of Lakeshore Drive.
Yes, the city has been getting beat up for a lack of dressing rooms at the combined baseball, football and soccer outdoor facility. Another huge void is the lack of food or snacks nearby.
Grouchy, who owns and operates the popular Yogurtz business on McKeown Avenue hopes to come to the rescue.
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He and his wife Ronda, have secured a new Field of Dreams Food and Ice Cream Emporium chip stand style business next to the parking lot at the sports field.
“I think there is a need and a want for some food and treats on this end of town,” Grouchy told BayToday.
“There is nothing really out here.”
They have shown their ice cream and yogurt expertise at their restaurant at the north end of the city, but Grouchy says he is going to put his 30 plus years as a chef to good use by creating some unique eats out of their new Omischl location.
“So we developed a menu that is kind of the Food Network comes to North Bay,” he said.
“This is really what we wanted, we don’t want all the normal things you see on a food truck.”
Those unique menu items include a Cuban Grill Panini, the Touchdown Grilled Cheese, made with pulled pork and two cheese, and even homemade Mac and Cheese to name just a few. Oh, of course there will be yogurt and ice cream treats as well.
Grouchy is hoping to have an official opening on Friday. He’s also expecting to have about 10 picnic tables set up for hungry visitors.
He is also optimistic the new chip stand will even cater to the industrial park nearby.
“I am convinced we will have driveby traffic,” said Grouchy.
“Let’s be honest right across the street we have a huge industrial park with tons of people there. There is not much out this way. Now we are a chip wagon but I don’t want to call it that, I call it a food and ice cream emporium.”
Grouchy plans to open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. but will be flexible with the hours of the business depending on the number of events taking place.
