Beloved local restaurant selected to bring a major flavour boost to the Cowan Recreation Centre at RBJ Schlegel Park

The City of Kitchener has selected Almadina, a long-standing, family-run Kitchener business with more than 30 years in the community, to operate the on-site food service at the new Cowan Recreation Centre, located at RBJ Schlegel park and opening late this year. 

Almadina was chosen following a competitive process that emphasized fresh, nutritious and locally sourced food, diverse and inclusive menu offerings, strong customer experience and a commitment to sustainable operations, including responsible sourcing and waste reduction. 

Centrally located within the Cowan Recreation Centre, the on-site food service will support the facility’s role as a landmark recreation destination for residents, families, athletes and sport tourism events. The menu will include a wide variety of options such as smoothies and juices, flatbread pizzas, breakfast wraps and pastries, chicken club sandwiches, falafel wraps, build-your-own bowls, samosas, grab-and-go snacks and kid-friendly options. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Almadina to the Cowan Recreation Centre at RBJ Schlegel Park,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Supporting local businesses is essential to building a strong, resilient economy, and Almadina is a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Kitchener special. For more than 30 years, this family-run business has been part of our community, and now they’ll help fuel a landmark recreation centre designed for everyone to connect, compete and belong.” 

Almadina operates four locations in Waterloo Region, including at the Kitchener Market, and is known for fresh, healthy Mediterranean-inspired food made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Their commercial kitchen allows them to scale production to meet the demands of tournaments, events and busy periods at the Cowan Recreation Centre. 

“This community has supported us for decades, and we’re excited to bring our fresh menu and our commitment to great customer experience to a space that will serve families, athletes and visitors in the years to come,” said Abdullah Lawendy, owner of Almadina. “We look forward to offering food that is healthy, flavourful and made with care.” 

When the facility opens late this year, the on-site food service is expected to operate 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. The first year of operation will act as a pilot period to monitor demand and adjust hours as needed to support sustainable operations and accessible pricing. 

Almadina will also offer catering for meetings and events inside the facility and will introduce seasonal menu rotations as the Cowan Recreation Centre at RBJ Schlegel Park grows and evolves. 

For updates and more information, visit Kitchener.ca/crc. 

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For more information: 

Corporate Communications and Marketing 
City of Kitchener 
media@kitchener.ca