Dominic Ling never planned to own his own burger chain.
Ling’s father, Thomas, bought their first location in the Eaton Centre in Toronto in 1996.
“It wasn’t the best at the time, but you work with it,” he said. “We were able to work with the brand, take directions and grow it.”
From there, the family business slowly expanded, stretching across central Ontario as far west as Chatham, until the Ling family owned an empire of A&Ws.
Ling’s latest location in Aurora makes 28 restaurants.
“Growing up, this was not what I saw myself doing, but getting opportunities, and being able to learn as much as I’ve learned through leaders in the business,” he said. “A lot of it also has to do with my father’s drive for success, and that is one of the key things that we’re very fortunate with.”
The Whitchurch-Stouffville resident said he has wanted to open in Aurora for nearly a decade, given its proximity to his home and the fact his kids attend school in Aurora.
“We’ve been looking at Aurora for a very, very long time,” he said. “I know that there have been some barriers with drive-thrus and getting access. Throughout the pandemic, drive-thrus have been important, and we think it’s the right (place) to be in.”
The new location on Bayview Avenue, next to another new food stop, Mr Puffs, features some uncommon items, like coffee from Pret A Manger, an omnipresent coffee brand in the U.K., which “sells more coffee in the U.K. than Starbucks.” A&W extended its pilot program with the coffee chain earlier this year, and Ling hopes the brand will take off in Canada.
Ling also paid tribute to his team who help him manage his various locations.
“I couldn’t manage 28 restaurants on my own,” he chuckles.
Aurora’s new A&W is located 15610 Bayview Ave.
