Developer sees potential for growth

Mike Lawrence - Staff Writer

It started with trying to find something to eat and ended with a major investment in the community.  Mahendra Patel, Owner and President of Incan Group of Companies was visiting a property he owns locally last year. As Patel relates, while looking to get something to eat after 8 p.m. one evening, he noted that his choices were somewhat limited. Already running a Dairy Queen franchise out west, he decided to speak with the company about opening a location in Sioux Lookout. The concept was approved and construction on the site, located beside Tim Hortons, is underway.

Patel sees more investment to come. He is in talks to add a Pizza Hut and hopes to ease Sioux Lookout’s housing shortage with the potential construction of apartments or condo units.

When asked why Sioux Lookout seemed the ideal location for his company’s investments, Patel noted, “I heard of the beautiful town of Sioux Lookout when I visited a friend in Northern Ontario. We saw the beautiful provincial parks in the area and the overall beauty of the town. Coming from Alberta where a large part of tourism is for the beautiful parks and scenery, I immediately saw opportunity here in Sioux Lookout...the town of Sioux Lookout is great to work with.”