ExCuria Reopens with New Ownership and Menu
Story by Kris Ketonen, Photos by Adrian Lysenko
The name and location may be familiar, but don’t let that fool you: the re-launched ExCuria is bringing a lot that’s new to the table. The south-side restaurant reopened its doors in early June, is running under new ownership—husband-and-wife team Keli and Sebastian Foglia—and boasts an all-new menu.
“The opportunity was there,” says Keli, who has 16 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. “You just can’t let a place like this go to waste.”
Sebastian agrees—the opportunity was simply too good to pass up. “[Keli is] a person of perfection,” he says. “This is a perfect opportunity. It was there, it presented itself, and it’s something that she can succeed in.”
There’s a lot that will be familiar to anyone who patronized ExCuria in the past. It’s still situated in the historic former Coo House at the corner of Miles and Archibald streets, and inside, the steampunk decor remains. That distinct look, in fact, was a big part of why the new owners wanted to re-open ExCuria. But it wasn’t the only reason. “The new menu I had in mind matched the look of the building,” Keli says. “We call it industrious food for industrious people…it’s all about tall sandwiches, tall burgers, and loads of appetizers.”
The portions are certainly big. “A lot of these places have gone away from giving that value meal,” Sebastian says. “That good-value meal…it’s going to be consistent.”
In an interview a few days after the soft opening, Keli says things had gotten off to a strong start. The patio was open, and operations were being handled by a staff of eight, including Chef Gabby Morsches. Beer from two Thunder Bay breweries—Sleeping Giant Brewing Company and Dawson Trail Craft Brewery—is on tap as well. “The reception is great,” Keli says. “We’re getting a lot of people who live in the area, and then during the day we’re having people who are employed around here.”
“There’s no place like this in Thunder Bay,” she says. “Nothing that can even come close.”
The new ExCuria is open from Tuesday to Saturday, starting at 11 am.
For more, follow @excuria6 on Instagram.
