The Sault’s Frank DeMarco and wife Maarit are reviving a popular local eatery.
Frank purchased the former Boots & Saddles Roadhouse in December 2024. Located near the corner of Second Line West and Airport Road, the restaurant is now known as DeMarco’s Boots & Saddles.
“We're doing a soft opening right now as a takeout. Our first day as a takeout was May 22. On Tuesday, June 3 the dining room will be fully open,” Frank told SooToday.
The dining room will be licensed to serve alcohol.
The takeout’s menu includes cheese fingers, poutine, bruschetta, burgers, fries, chicken wings, chicken cutlets and potatoes, pizza and pasta dinners for two or four people.
“We've been doing some renovations. We brought the kitchen up to date. We painted and we did some work around the bar and just added our own little flavour to it,” Frank said.
He says the dining room menu will include "Canadiana” food.
“I’m Italian, so of course we're going to incorporate a bit of the Italian flavour and spice. We're going to have pasta dinners and lasagna nights but we're not an Italian restaurant. We have hamburgers, we've got chicken wings and we want to incorporate ribs and brisket.”
Frank’s wife Maarit is a local food industry veteran.
She was a co-owner of the former Suriano’s Restaurant and worked at Barsanti’s Restaurant and Root River Golf Club for several years.
“My wife is so good at this business. She's a blessing. She's fantastic,” Frank said.
DeMarco’s Boots & Saddles hours of operation as a takeout are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Frank anticipates the dining room will be open from 2 to 10 p.m.
The original Boots & Saddles Roadhouse closed its doors in July 2023.
Business at the new DeMarco’s Boots & Saddles has been good so far.
“We’re grateful for the support from the people in Prince Township. They certainly missed the old Boots & Saddles and they're happy to see us bring it back under new ownership and a new name,” Frank said.
He and Maarit want to revive the eatery because of a love of food and people.
“We love doing this and we just want to bring some happiness. We want to share moments and share a plate.
"That’s probably been our biggest thing at home. Our door has always been open for family and friends. If our family brought friends over we always put another plate out. We just enjoy the celebration of food and people. We love it."
