Melissa Kruyne brings passion project to life with new Stittsville eatery

From left, Kyle MacHutchon, Melissa Kruyne, Malcolm Wildeboer, Jennifer Miller and Jill Bonk at the celebration for The groundbreaking ceremony held for The Station on Stittsville Main Street. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Melissa Kruyne brings passion project to life with new Stittsville eatery

Published On: September 5, 2025By Caroline Phillips

Earlier this summer, Inverness Homes broke ground on a mixed-use development in the heart of Stittsville featuring future retail, office and residential space — and, perhaps most rewarding for Ottawa business leader Melissa Kruyne, a new restaurant.

Kruyne is a business partner in Inverness Homes, owned by spouse Kyle MacHutchon. Kruyne is also co-owner of KOTT Inc. a local construction materials supplier. She described, during an all-women panel hosted by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association last December, how she “cut her teeth on a two-by-four” while growing up in a family business and, to this day, still loves the scent of lumber thawing in spring.

But, there was a time, after studying at the Ivy Business School at Western University, when Kruyne believed her true calling wasn’t construction but restaurants. In her 20s, she was a server in local favourites such as Hurley’s in Bells Corners and Wiley’s Sports Pub on Carling Avenue.

“I loved hearing stories from family friends who were restaurant owners,” said Kruyne, who also worked internationally in the industry, in Amsterdam. “I always wanted to go into the restaurant business but at that time, the family business made more sense for me.”

Through her new restaurant venture, Kruyne hopes to add something special to Stittsville, a community she’s called home for almost 20 years. It’s also a passion project that she’ll regret if she doesn’t follow through, she said. “If I don’t do it, it’s going to bother me, but wow, I chose my own community to do this. I’m putting myself out there.”

Kruyne said she’s ready to take a leap into the unknown. “Everyone needs that big goal that terrifies you. I just feel like it’s something that I have to do, and I really am going to be counting on good people to help me.”

The mother of three said she won’t be managing the restaurant herself. Rather, “I’m looking for somebody who already has that kind of experience. I’m creating something here, and I really want it to be a good thing for Stittsville. In order for it to be a good thing for Stittsville, I’m going to need the right team.”

The new project is also an opportunity for Kruyne to collaborate with her brother on his passion. Ryan Kruyne and his wife Ashley have started Opa’s Farming Huis, a new regenerative farming venture in Ottawa’s west end. The goal is for Opa’s to supply the new restaurant with farm-fresh vegetables, and all-natural pasture-raised meat.

Kruyne hopes the new eatery will give locals an additional dining option — one with wide “boots to suits” appeal. The 50- to 70-seat restaurant will serve as a gathering spot for local residents, a date destination for couples and a friendly hub for recreational users of the Trans Canada Trail, located immediately north of the property. “It’s going to be a cornerstone building, for sure,” said Kruyne.

An architectural rendering of The Station, a new mixed-use developing being construction on Stittsville Main Street.

The new building is being called The Station to reflect its resemblance to a heritage railway station — once the hub of Stittsville when it was still a small village. It will feature red brick, tall arched windows, wide eaves and a distinctive multi-sided clock tower. The architect is Malcolm Wildeboer, owner, founding partner and principal architect at Vandenberg & Wildeboer Architects. He’s also a resident of Stittsville, and lives right around the corner from the property, located at 1518 Stittsville Main St.

The site was originally home to Bradley’s General Store, built in the 1870s. It had long since ceased operating as a general store and was operating as Louisiannie’s restaurant when it was badly damaged by a fire in 2013, and demolished the following year. Kruyne and her family had celebrated many special occasions at Louisiannie’s over the years, so when the opportunity to buy the property arose, there was already a special connection with the site.

The project, slated for completion in spring 2027, will feature a four-storey, 27-unit luxury apartment building, with one- and two-bedroom units, positioned toward the rear. The ground-floor restaurant will include a patio area. The second floor will be used for office space for Inverness Homes and additional tenants. There will also be 67 parking spaces and 17 spots for bicycle parking.

Stittsville is one of the fastest growing communities in Ottawa right now, with a population of more than 53,000.

Kruyne said Inverness Homes bought the property five years ago, not realizing how long it would take to get shovels in the ground. “It’s been a long wait,” she acknowledged, “We got derailed by COVID and construction costs.”

Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower attended the groundbreaking ceremony and subsequent reception held across the street at the SHOWROOM Furniture + Lighting store, owned by Jennifer Miller and Jill Bonk.

“It’s great to finally see construction for The Station get underway,” Gower told CiTC in a subsequent email. “It really hits all the marks for the type of development we want to see on Stittsville Main Street: a restaurant at street level with apartments on top; an attractive design; and, even better, it’s locally owned.

Continued Gower: “This may be the most important piece of land on Stittsville Main for redevelopment because it is so central to the community and right next to the Trans Canada Trail, so I’m really excited to see it moving forward.”

From left, Kyle MacHutchon, Stittsville Coun. Glen Gower and Melissa Kruyne at the groundbreaking ceremony for The Station on Stittsville Main Street.