Newmarket’s downtown is getting a new restaurant with Locale winning the bid to take over the 500 Water St. location.
The restaurant will be opening next year in the site formerly occupied by Cachet Supper Club. After the town issued a request for proposals in June, Locale was the successful proponent for a long-term lease.
“We are extremely excited to give a very warm welcome to Locale as we embark on the next chapter of 500 Water Street,” Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said in a news release. “The creative vision for Bar Locale will perfectly complement the existing high-calibre restaurants Newmarket has become known for throughout the GTA.”
Locale currently has locations in Aurora and King City, offering an Italian-focused menu with an added bar and patio. OpenTable listed Locale as a top 100 restaurant in Canada in 2022 and one of 100 outdoor dining experiences in 2023.
“Our team couldn’t be happier to expand into Newmarket after quite some time searching for the right location for Bar Locale,” owners Lilly Vona and Frank Facciponte said. “Our overall vision for this space is to create a food-focused bar with the kind of ambience that will engage all the senses for both an epic neighbourhood gathering place and an exciting culinary experience.”
The location overlooks Fairy Lake and has been owned and operated by the town as a restaurant for two decades, with different purveyors using it over the years. Cachet was at the location for six years. As it put out the RFP, the town indicated it was looking for a 10-year term.
“The town is proud to have retained this property as an iconic location in Newmarket that has been a strategic anchor in the revitalization of the downtown,” the municipality said.
The town estimated that the new restaurant would be ready to open at the end of summer 2024, following extensive renovations by Bar Locale. It is also estimated that the new restaurant will create 40 new jobs.
“This new addition will continue to enhance the cultural, culinary and economic vibrancy of our award-winning Main Street,” Taylor said.
