Large urban farm restaurant to take root in Windsor

From Metro Canada: Restauranteur Van Niforos’ plan for an urban greenhouse in Windsor was born of practicality.

“I just wasn’t getting enough local produce,” says the owner of The Penalty Box. “By the time it got to me it had travelled two or three thousand miles.”

However, the more Niforos learned about urban farming practices, the more the idea appealed to him.

“Once you learn about it, once you see it, it becomes that much more attractive,” he said.

Niforos, along with partners George Sofos and David Fields, is aiming to turn the old trolley warehouse on University Avenue into an integrated urban farm and restaurant. The historic building will host a second Penalty Box restaurant, as well as the Delightful Farm greenhouse.

Fields, an organic gardener, says the 3,000 sq. ft. (85 sq. m) greenhouse and 300-seat eatery will be the first of its size in North America.

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