Hermanos drops cigar lounge from Firehall plans

Hermanos South American Steakhouse has dropped its cigar lounge plan at the historic Brandon Firehall to shift focus toward a family-friendly dining experience.

The cancellation was announced on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the restaurant’s upcoming Brandon opening next month.

Co-owner Riley Bernier said the decision to remove the cigar concept was driven by a refined vision for the space rather than any issue with the building itself.

“The cigar lounge was always my dad’s project, and as we’ve been building up in Brandon, it became clear it wasn’t part of our vision for the firehouse,” Bernier told the Sun.

“We want it to be a space where families and everyone can feel comfortable.”

He said the lounge no longer aligned with the direction he and co-owner Juliana Bernier want for the venue inside the historic space.

Despite the change, Bernier said the decision does not affect the broader renovation or opening plans for the downtown Brandon project, and there are currently no plans to revisit the cigar lounge concept in the future.

The expansion by Hermanos South American Steakhouse marks the brand’s first location outside Winnipeg, with the team transforming the historic Brandon Firehall on Princess Avenue into a full steakhouse and hospitality venue.

Announced earlier this month, the project was set to include a steakhouse, a lounge area, a cigar lounge in the building’s hayloft and a 50-seat comedy club in the basement. With the cigar lounge removed under revised plan, the other elements remain in development.

The restaurant, led operationally by Bernier, who is relocating to Brandon with wife Juliana, is still moving ahead with its broader vision of dining and events. Bernier confirmed he will be in Brandon full-time in the coming week after wrapping up operations at the Winnipeg location.

“We’re very excited to be able to spend more time in the community and get to know everyone there,” he said.

The steakhouse is expected to seat about 130 guests, with additional patio space and a smaller upstairs lounge. Once fully operational, it is projected to employ between 50 and 70 staff members.

The restaurant will roll out a series of themed South American culinary events in June and early July, including ticketed dinners highlighting regional cuisine from countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

The opening schedule also includes a June 18 launch night supporting the Brandon Downtown Biz, followed by a June 21 Firefighters Ball benefiting the local firefighters’ association.

Bernier said these early events are meant to introduce the community to the space ahead of full operations.

“People have been waiting to see this building come back to life,” he said. “This gives them a chance to experience it right away.”

The comedy club planned for the basement is still expected to launch later in the fall, while the restaurant aims for a mid-June opening window.

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