The Elm Pizzaria & Cafe, located at 169 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.<\/div>\n
\u201cYou know, this time is hard for all business,\u201d Montoya, who is the chef and owner of The Elm, told The Herald. \u201cBut we are doing OK.\u201d<\/div>\n
Originally from El Salvador, Montoya came to Winnipeg three years ago through the federal government\u2019s refugee program. He settled in Elmwood, working as a cook at JC Tacos and More (187 Henderson Hwy.).<\/div>\n
Mayra Dubon, a real estate agent who owns JC Tacos with her husband Marvin, bought the building at 169 Henderson Hwy. in 2020.<\/div>\n
\u201cThis business sat empty for a long time,\u201d Dubon explained. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/div>\n
After showing the space \u201c12 to 15 times\u201d 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.<\/div>\n
\u201cMy husband and I looked at each other, and we knew this was it,\u201d Dubon said.<\/div>\n
After sitting down with Montoya to come up with a business plan, the three went in as partners, and the seed of the Elm was sown.<\/div>\n
\u201cWe told him, you have to put some skin in the game,\u201d Dubon said. \u201cSo he took his savings, we put some funding in, as well, and here we are.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u00a0While business has been limited to take-out and delivery, the neighbourhood has been supportive of The Elm so far.<\/div>\n
\u201cThe neighbourhood has been very welcoming,\u201d Dubon said.<\/div>\n
Along with pizza, The Elm\u2019s 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.<\/div>\n
\u201cMy recipe for pizza sauce is from home,\u201d Montoya said. \u201cEverything we make, we make it here. Our recipes are singular, you\u2019ll find it only here.\u201d<\/div>\n
For Dubon, the opportunity to improve the neighbourhood and see a new entrepreneur find their feet in the market is rewarding.<\/div>\n
\u201cThis is Elman\u2019s business,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want him to learn and to run with it and make the best of this.\u201d<\/div>\n
The Elm Pizzaria & Cafe is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.<\/div>\n
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