Cathy Dobson - The Sarnia Journal, April 18, 2019One of downtown�s most beautifully restored historic buildings is opening this week as The Blue Line Pub Lounge.It will be a new sports bar, welcoming the public and honouring first responders with discounts and a display of emergency professionals� hats and shoulder patches.Owner Tracey Moore Mamak and husband Paul Mamak purchased 180 Front St. North last June. She�s a local registered nurse and he�s a staff sergeant with Sarnia Police Services.The couple moved into the condo above and initially considered leasing out the main floor to a bar or restaurant operator.Years ago the building, which runs through to Christina Street, was extensively renovated and has been occupied by a succession of cafes, restaurants and bars.�We thought of renting it to someone else but we�ve always talked about our own bar and restaurant,� said Moore Mamak.The reno began in December with some small structural changes and a new kitchen adjacent to the banquet and meeting room.New televisions have been installed in the restaurant, and one large wall sports a corkboard and hooks, where the hats of police, fire, paramedics and military hang.�The idea is to display as many shoulder patches on the board from first responders as we can,� said Mamak.The Blue Line�s menu was developed by chef Tammy Rice with input from Lambton College chefs.The result is a variety of gourmet jumbo hot dogs, wings, wraps, salads, soups, nachos and personal pizzas.The hot dogs sell for $12 to $14 and have names like The Backdraft, which is served with caramelized onions, goat cheese, roasted red peppers and roasted garlic cloves.Wraps sell for $12, such as The Gettysburg filled with curried pulled pork, cucumber raita and crispy onions.�Our idea is to be a little more classy than most sports bars and welcome everyone, including families,� said Mamak.A full line of beer, craft beer, draft, mixed drinks and wine is available. Moore Mamak said she hopes to partner with a few wineries and bring in a wide selection.�If our regular customers ask for a certain kind of beer or wine, that�s what we�ll stock,� she said.Between 15 and 20 full-time and part-time staff are being hired to work in the 60-seat bar and restaurant.�The banquet room accommodates another 30 and has a large screen and projector.�We plan to have theme nights and push the chairs aside in the banquet room on weekends so the after-dinner crowd can dance,� Moore Mamak said.She and her husband plan to continue to work at their jobs and have hired bar manager Olivia Fish for day-to-day operations.�It�s going to be great,� said Moore Mamak. �We�ve got an excellent staff.�The Blue Line Pub Lounge at 180 Front St. North is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. � 11 p.m. and later on the weekends.Got a great idea for a business story? Send it to�cathy.dobson@thesarniajournal.ca.
