Putting ‘The Elm’ in Elmwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/02/2021 (1685 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Elman Montoya has put The Elm in the heart of Elmwood.

The Elm Pizzeria & Cafe, located at 163 Henderson Hwy., opened in December 2020. Opening in the middle of a global pandemic, during a time when restaurants are forbidden by public health order from serving meals in house, is certainly not a best-case scenario. But Montoya is making the most of it.

“You know, this time is hard for all business,” Montoya, the chef at The Elm, told The Herald. “But we are doing OK.”

Originally from El Salvador, Montoya came to Winnipeg three years ago through the federal government’s refugee program. He settled in Elmwood, working as a cook at JC Tacos and More (187 Henderson Hwy.).

Mayra Dubon, a real estate agent who owns JC Tacos with her husband Marvin, bought the building at 163 Henderson Hwy. in 2020.

“This business sat empty for a long time,” Dubon explained. “We wanted to get more businesses in here. So we decided to buy it and see if we can give someone a break to get them started.”

After showing the space “12 to 15 times” without finding a fit, Montoya, who has nearly 20 years of cooking experience, mentioned that it had always been his dream to start a pizza restaurant of his own.

“My husband and I looked at each other, and we knew this was it,” Dubon said.

After sitting down with Montoya to come up with a business plan, and the seed of the Elm was sown.

Our Communities | Newsletter

Community Calendar

Mondays

A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities.

Sign up for Community Calendar

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

While business has been limited to take-out and delivery, the neighbourhood has been supportive of The Elm so far.

“The neighbourhood has been very welcoming,” Dubon said.

Along with pizza, The Elm’s menu offers pasta, garlic bread, and authentic Mexican and Salvadoran pastries. Unique recipes and attention to detail is what sets The Elm apart from other pizza joints.

“My recipe for pizza sauce is from home,” Montoya said. “Everything we make, we make it here. Our recipes are singular, you’ll find it only here.”

The Elm Pizzeria & Cafe is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112

   Read full biography