The Shoppers Mall in Brandon has posted on their Facebook and Twitter accounts that construction is to begin this fall on bringing an Original Joe's Restaurant & Bar to Brandon.   They will join the over 90 stores and services at the Shoppers Mall.  No other information was available at this time.    

Halloween Alley (1240-18th Street) is now open for business.  The "pop-up" seasonal store sells a wide range of Halloween clothing, masks, kits, accessories, wigs, makeup and even decorative ideas for your Halloween display.  Costume sizes range from infant toddler to plus size.  They even have both cute and scary costumes for your pets.   Their helpful and friendly staff are available to help you with Halloween costume ideas. This will be their 5th season in Brandon.

The restaurant and lounge inside Astoria Pizza & Pasta (1650 Park Ave) is set to open to the public on Wednesday, September the 12th.  The restaurant is owned by Toula Tarr and Brock Trotter and they have spent the last several weeks training staff and looking after all the finer details to ensure a smooth opening.  Toula is the daughter of Steve and Barb Paras, the owners of the original Astoria Pizza in Brandon.   Both the restaurant and lounge have been updated and remodeled.  The menu (pizza, pasta, salads, subs, appetizers) features the same old country family recipes served at the families original location on the corner of Victoria Ave. and 26th Street.  There is also a kid's and senior's menu as well as a variety of desserts to choose from.  A soup and salad bar will also be available throughout the prime lunch and dinner hours.  They can be reached at 717-5555 or via their Facebook page.

Tom and Mlee Price felt that owning one franchise just wasn’t enough.  The owners of Booster Juice on 18th Street therefore made the two year journey to secure the rights for the young and up and coming business Chopped Leaf.  The Brandon location will be the first of its kind in Manitoba and they are set to open this Sunday at 11am. “We went to Regina to check it out and we fell in love right away" said Tom Price. When asked to compare Chopped Leaf to Pita Pit or Freshii, Tom felt that Chopped Leaf was a smaller and younger chain and that some of the products of the 3 could be considered similar.  "But, we have tried them both and we prefer Chopped Leaf and now the public will decide.   I will put ours up against anyone...plus our starter salads start at $6.00" added Tom. Price was very happy with securing their location in the former Pita Central location on 18th street.   “Everything fell into place...the location, the parking, close to BU, and the visibility...it all worked out very well". Business opens this Sunday from 11 am – 7 pm.  Chopped Leaf is located at A-601-18th Street. https://www.facebook.com/ChoppedBrandon/

Brandon, MB and Stamford, Conn. – September 4, 2018 – The Keystone Centre and Centerplate, the leading hospitality partner to North America’s premier sports stadiums, convention centers and entertainment venues, today announced the signing of a long-term contract for hospitality services at the 90-acre event complex. The agreement grants Centerplate exclusivity for all catering, food and beverage services at the multipurpose facility located in Brandon, Manitoba, effective immediately.   “We are thrilled to be partnering to bring great experiences to fans and guests, as we expand our hospitality services within Manitoba,” said Centerplate President and CEO Chris Verros. “For generations of families, the Keystone Centre is where the community has come together for exciting events. It is an honour to be a part of the beating heart of Brandon, and we are extremely happy to bring our team’s talent and experience to the Centre.”   The Centre’s main 5,102-seat arena, Westoba Place, is home to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League and the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, which attracts over 100,000 people over the course of a week and has the distinction of being one of only two fairs in Canada to have received Royal patronage. Boasting more than 1,500 event days annually, the Keystone Centre hosts a diverse array of agricultural, musical and corporate activities, and is one of Brandon’s largest economic catalysts. Further, the venue has already been named the host of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier   “Centerplate brought exceptional vision and talent to the table, and we are very excited to work with them to enhance the quality of services here in Brandon,” said Jeff Schumacher, General Manager, Keystone Centre. “Their team shares our vision and commitment to professional guest services, and is investing in our venue and our people to meet that vision.”   Its combination of incredible facilities and small town hospitality make the Province’s signature events at the Keystone Centre memorable and unique. Centerplate will honour that tradition while investing in new training and infrastructure, with a focus on food quality, customer service and partnerships with premium local, regional and national partners.   Centerplate has a proven track record in managing services for exceptional events and destinations and has been recognised for providing excellent service at high profile venues, including: Bell MTS Place, Burton Cummings Theatre, BC Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Scotiabank Convention Centre, St. John’s Convention Center, the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax and Toronto’s Beanfield Centre.   The company plans to unveil new seasonal offerings, local selections, and catering menus during the upcoming fall season.