A Sarnia family is breathing new life into a once-popular local restaurant.
The Chipican, which first opened in 1948 and has been closed for a couple of years, is going to re-open its doors late this spring as the Lake Point Grillhouse and Lounge.
Kevin Frayne and his parents recently bought the building at the corner of Michigan Ave. and Christina St. N.
Frayne says they're gutting it and installing the contents of the former Razzers restaurant in Corunna which they also bought.
"People that have been there before or grew up going there are going to notice a lot of changes when they walk in," says Frayne. "It's going to be almost unrecognizable. The only thing that we still have there that is original is the old barbecue pit."
Frayne says the name of the restaurant comes from historic street names. Christina St. used to be called Lake Rd. and Michigan Ave. was once known as Point Edward Rd.
He says it'll be a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, noting Sarnia doesn't need another sports bar.
They'll be serving dishes including steak, ribs, chicken, and lobster. The inside will accommodate about 200 people, but they're hoping to build an outdoor patio next year.
A job fair is expected to be held in the next few weeks. The attached hotel was not part of the purchase.