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Jason Cassis has fond memories of growing up in Galt and wandering around the property where the Gaslight District now sits on Grand Avenue South.
It was the place he had his first beer, a single warm Labatt Blue shared among his friends while staring across the Grand River.
After taking off for California in his teenage years, Cassis has returned to the region in hopes of helping others create memories at the city's newest entertainment hot spot.
Along with his partner at Equal Parts Hospitality, Jerrett Young, the pair are bringing a well-known Hamilton eatery to Cambridge.
The French, described as modern and stylish, features both classic and French cuisine in a bistro-style setting.
"It feels good to be back in town," Cassis said.
"The Gaslight District is a remarkable space. I want people to experience something as interesting as the district at large. Something more dynamic than you might find in a city of this size."
Cassis sees The French as the perfect fit to fulfill that vision.
"I think this restaurant will compliment what's here, not only in the Gaslight District but in the city," he said.
"City's this size often have a lot of chain restaurants, so it's nice to have independently owned restaurants that offer a product and service that might be different than what people are used to."
Being designed with a 60-seat bistro area, an additional 60-seat private dining area will also be available.
When the warmer summer months roll around, patrons can sit outside on a wraparound patio to enjoy the sights and sounds of the surrounding area.
With the Foundry Tavern and The Underwing already established, Young agrees providing a unique option for diners is critical to the success of the restaurant.
"It's one of the fan favourites in Hamilton, for sure," Young said of the other The French location.
"We thought this would be the perfect spot for The French 2.0. It will be a classic French bistro with some fresh takes on old classics."
The culinary team at the new restaurant is the same team heading up the kitchen at The Underwing.
French onion soup, steak frites, steak tartare and now a venison tartare are among the favourite menu items, according to Young.
Residents will also be able to pop in for simpler options like coffee and cafe items to go.
Young sees the district as incredibly unique and believes his restaurant will seamlessly compliment the existing businesses.
"We're looking at the district as not only a place Cambridge and the surrounding area can come, but as a destination in all of Ontario," he said.
"There's going to be something for everyone. In my humble opinion, there's nothing like this in the area. The one thing that comes close is the Distillery District in Toronto. I think there's very few places in Ontario that bring this number of people together."
Young confirmed they hope to have the restaurant up and running in July.
For more information on The French visit thefrench.ca.
