MARKHAM, Ont. — Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Markham has opened in Downtown Markham, next to the Marriott Markham Hotel — the third Greater Toronto Area (GTA) location for co-franchisees Lana Duke and R. David Duke.
“We’re thrilled to be able to open in this vital community,” says Lana Duke. “We’ve been part of the GTA restaurant scene since 1995 when we opened the first Ruth’s Chris in Canada at our downtown location in the Hilton Toronto on Adelaide St. W. Almost a year ago to the day, we moved our Mississauga restaurant to 970 Dixon Rd., across from Pearson Airport. All our venues reinforce the Ruth Fertel New Orleans tradition of sizzling steaks, fine wines and exceptional service.”
“Sophistication and comfort define the new restaurant’s interior design,” says R. David Duke. “The revolving-door entry leads guests into a curved, soft, welcoming space that cradles the reception desk. From there, the wine display hints at what lies beyond, which is an extensive lounge area where a floating bar is surrounded by comfortable seating.”
The new 7,632-sq.-ft. restaurant was designed by Toronto-based HCA Architecture. The dramatic bold-red, curved 15-foot-high ceiling terminates in significant glazing. During the day, the glass façade that surrounds two sides of the restaurant brings in natural light and in the evening, emanates light to the outside, animating street life and exposing passers-by to the dining opportunities inside.
According to Harry Christakis, a principal at Toronto-based HCA Architecture, who worked on the project with interior designer Andy Gearing, “The series of spaces was well thought out. Our vision was to offer a variety of choices for diners, depending on their moods and needs. The bold colour and sense of space in this restaurant begin to make an iconic statement of the brand on this street in Downtown Markham.”
The space features intimate banquet-style seating, as well as a series of private dining rooms for larger groups or corporate functions. At the end of the sequence is the grand dining-hall space with its curves, antique mirrors and hanging light fixtures.
The red hue plays a prominent role throughout, as it ties to the Ruth’s Chris brand identity. “We used a similar deep red in the carpet with a grayish tone,” Christakis adds, “and we loved the carpet so much that we had the pattern custom-made into the vinyl installed on the wall where the banquettes are located.”
He said that the interior design is largely affected by the restaurant’s new location. “Remington Group designed Downtown Markham as a mixed-use community and we’re excited to be involved in a piece of this vibrant, entertaining culturally infused urban centre. We wanted to reflect that vision with an exciting series of spaces for this steak house and make them relevant to their urban surroundings.”
