overview

The Ellice Café & Theatre opened in February of 2005 as a non-profit community development initiative of New Life Ministries.

   The goal is reasonable prices, quality meals and friendly staff - most of which live in the West End. The restaurant serves a broad spectrum of people. It has become a great place for "white collar", "blue collar", and "no collar" people to have an affordable, quality meal.

   Customers seat themselves, order and pay for their meal at the register, then have the meal delivered to their table. The goal was to speed up service.

   Prices are in increments of 25 cents and the PST and GST are both included in the menu prices. "What you see is what you pay."

   Menu sales from the Ellice Café help us subsidize a low-income food service for some residents of the New Life Ministries transitional housing and emergency shelter. The café is also a natural venue for volunteering and job training.

   Since 1983, New Life Ministries has worked to support and encourage positive changes in the West End. The ministry is led by well-known community activist and Winnipeg Sun columnist, Harry Lehotsky.

   It's hard to comprehend the loneliness felt by people who are working hard to change their lives. Change in life often requires many changes in relationships and much time alone. The café serves some of that need. The café has no liquor license - at the request of community residents in recovery from addictions that wanted a "dry" place to relax and eat.

   The theatre space was renovated to create an accessible venue for affordable and positive leisure and entertainment. Since concessions are provided by the attached café, admission for the shows should be well within reach of local residents.