The wait for MR. MIKES Steakhouse Casual Restaurant is nearly over.

Owner Stan Killam says it's been a long time coming.

"I can't describe how much work we've had our local contractors do. Ellwood-McRorie Ltd. and Cobbe's Plumbing and Heating have spent months and months preparing this," says Killam. "I, myself, have spent over two years looking at the brand and the franchise and all the training that I've had to do, to get this on the road."

Stan KillamMR MIKES is one of several restaurants to open up in Portage over the last few months. Killam says he wasn't going to open the restaurant anywhere else.

"We moved here in 1977. My father was in the military and I've loved this city. I love the community. I love where we're located," says Killam. "I just thought, we just needed something different in this town. There's enough room for everyone, but I just wanted a nice sit-down place, and a casual place where we could bring the people from our community to sit down and enjoy with their family."

When asked what sets MR MIKES apart from other restaurants, Killam points to their lodge-like atmosphere. He says they are very easy-going.

"I think the casual end of MR MIKES (makes us unique)," says Killam. "Our servers are all in blue jeans. We want you to come in as casual as you are. If you're a worker on the rigs, or something, we want you to come in as you are. We're not a pretentious place. We don't stand behind a counter and wait for reservations and stuff like that."

The doors open to the public at 10:45 this morning.