Kicks Saloon creates positive vibes during challenging times

By Susan Johnson

 Kicks Saloon re-opened on January 19 in Redwater, intending to give some new hope to the community by thinking outside of the box. The owner, Jonathan Derouin, is a long-time resident of the Redwater area and noticed a market demand for a new family-friendly restaurant.

     “I have been involved with Kicks for 20 years, and I have owned it for the past seven years,” Derouin said. “The past few years have been very challenging, navigating through Covid-19, so I wanted to create a positive vibe for the families in this community.  The improved Kicks Saloon is a win-win for both adults and kids.”

     Derouin started the licensing process, for improvements, in November 2021. This took about six weeks, and then the restaurant was shut down for four weeks while the cafe was gutted, and the kitchen was expanded. Also, other changes were made during the renovations.

     The improved Kicks Saloon includes a jukebox animal house for the youngsters, adult and youth pool tables, a selection of draft beer, VLT’s in an adult-only area, and seating with a saloon feel. All ages have access to most of the saloon until 8:30 pm. After that time, Kicks Saloon is reserved for adults only. Customers can also look forward to live entertainment which will often be family oriented. In addition, there is an updated menu with high-quality meals, including a popular Ukrainian dinner.

     Undoubtedly, running a restaurant during the Covid-19 restrictions has been risky and challenging. Derouin recognized this but said he liked the independence of self-employment even though success can be unpredictable right now. When asked why Kicks Saloon has persevered over the past few years, Derouin immediately responded, “My co-workers and family have played the biggest roles. Also, most of my staff has been with Kicks for 3-8 years. I have a great team, and they are excited about the changes!”

     Derouin also wants to help support the community through challenging times. For example, Kicks Saloon had a “Burger of the Month.”  The proceeds went towards helping a family who had recently lost their mother. Derouin would like to see Kicks Saloon continue with more initiatives like this. When asked about the positive vibes he hopes to create in Redwater, Derouin replied by recounting an experience from a few weeks ago. “There was a hockey tournament in town, and a young team came to eat at Kicks Saloon. The players were thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was awesome to hear the laughter and excitement of the kids just being kids.  I can’t wait to hear this more often!” 

     It is refreshing to see a young, local entrepreneur investing in the local community despite the difficult times we’ve been experiencing.  Best of luck to Kicks Saloon, as Jonathan Derouin and his team help create new memories for the families of Redwater.