Renovations to the local Milestones restaurant will hopefully raise about $3,000 to help 91原创鈥檚 homeless.

The restaurant on the 91原创 Bypass, near 200th Street, opened back in 1999 and recently underwent a massive renovations.

Now, a grand re-opening celebration is being held Thursday, July 27, and will raise money for 91原创鈥檚 Gateway of Hope homeless shelter and outreach centre, explained Milestones鈥� Jaivin Khatri.

鈥淎s part of our ongoing initiative to give back to the community we call home, we will be fundraising for the Salvation Army, Gateway of Hope by hosting a silent auction and 50/50 draw. In addition, all gratuities from [the three practice runs] will be donated to support this vital organization,鈥� said Khatri, who is the region鈥檚 community relations and marketing manager.

鈥淚f we can raise $3,000 for them, we鈥檒l be very happy,鈥� said Khatri, who worked for three years as the assistant manager of the 91原创 restaurant, and who was instrumental in kicking off the company鈥檚 giving back initiatives.

鈥淪ix years ago, we started to do community work from 91原创,鈥� he said, recounting a 鈥渞egulars party鈥� they hosted for about 65 people. The event raised $2,600 for the Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association, and started it all.

Since then, those outreach efforts have 鈥渟nowballed,鈥� he said, noting that all the restaurants in the Lower Mainland now host similar community fundraisers, and to-date have generated more than $134,000 for charities.

鈥淭hat all started with the efforts in 91原创.鈥�

Now, he鈥檚 hoping the grand re-opening bash will expand on that.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to give one nice big lump sum to Gateway of Hope,鈥� he said, challenging other local restaurants to do more philanthropic work in the community.

He noted Milestones has supported the Gateway for the past four years by catering their Ride Into History, which is happening this weekend in 91原创.

It鈥檚 important, Khatri insisted, to 鈥渢ake care of your community. By getting involved and taking care of the community, we can only hope the community will remember the efforts when they鈥檙e looking to go out as a family or group and celebrate something special.鈥�

The more all types of businesses do to help give back to the community, 鈥渢he better off we will all be,鈥� Khatri said.

Changes needed

Coming up on 20 years without a major facelift, the restaurant was overdue for some changes, Khatri said, noting the painted spurs on the windows showed how out-of-date the facilities were.

It was closed down since Mother鈥檚 Day, and re-opened a few weeks ago.

The new space offers expanded seating, more than doubling the bar seats in the 6,300-square-foot space.

Among the renos, guests will see what he calls a 鈥渞aw, industrial look鈥� to the restaurant, featuring brick, metal, and even bicycle chain chandeliers.

鈥淲e spent a lot of money to make sure we did it right,鈥� Khatri said.

Hopeful the public want to celebrate the newly renovated digs and help out 鈥渁 worthy cause,鈥� he said.

The public is invited to attend the grand re-opening event from 6 p.m. 鈥檛il closing on Thursday, July 27.

The event will feature a selection of complimentary tastings from the new menu, some free beverages, and drink specials, as well as a live DJ.

While the event is open to the public, reservations are mandatory by emailing milestones5208@cara.com.

鈥淐ome see our new look,鈥� he said.