In 2018, Tracey Moore Mamak, a registered nurse, and her husband Paul Mamak, a staff sergeant with Sarnia Police Services, purchased the historic building at 180 Front Street North. They had both always talked about owning a bar or restaurant one day, so instead of renting the space to another restaurant owner, Tracey decided to open Blue Line Pub & Lounge. “We built a new kitchen, painted the whole space, and revamped the bar. I wanted the restaurant to feel warm and comfortable and to be a place where people can sit, relax and enjoy,” she explains. “Blue Line is for everyone, however we do honour our first responders and have various incentives in place for them.”

When Blue Line Pub & Lounge opened in the spring of 2019, their menu consisted of gourmet hotdogs, wings, wraps, salads, and nachos, but Moore Mamak soon realized that their customers were looking for healthier options. “We’ve started serving salmon, haddock, and homemade soups. We also serve a prime rib dinner on Saturday evenings. Our menu has really grown, so we are going to look at making sure it includes our favorites and most popular items.” Blue Line Pub & Lounge also has a kids menu. “We are a family restaurant, then after hours we are a bar and lounge. We have a DJ and live music every Friday and Saturday evening.”

The banquet and meeting room in the back of Blue Line Pub & Lounge is used to host private parties, meetings, and conferences. “We can’t believe how many people book our banquet room. It’s been a really amazing space to host all types of events.” The room can accommodate groups of up to 50 people, and the restaurant also accepts reservations. Blue Line Pub & Lounge has a staff of ten including a manager. “Customer service is our number one priority. I like to make sure our customers are greeted and served right away.”

Moore Mamak also encourages customers to ask about the menu because they are more than willing to switch out items or mix and match. “If there is something that someone wants, we are happy to improvise.” Blue Line Pub & Lounge doesn’t have a deep fryer because they are focused on healthy menu options. They also use fresh, local produce when it is available. Some of their most popular items include butter chicken nachos and maple glazed salmon. They also offer a wide selection of beer, craft beer, wine, and mixed drinks.

While Moore Mamak knows that you can’t please everyone all the time, she does like constructive feedback from their customers. “We want to know what is working and what is not working, so we can improve. We want people to come back. I love it when I know our customers are having a good time here and enjoying the food and atmosphere.”