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Located at the corner of Ford and Royal Windsor Drives, the club has been the site of everyâ€" thing from a truck stop to a strip joint before becoming a fine restaurant in 1981. On April 20, the landmark restaurant Verdi‘s hosted a grand reâ€"opening to showcase its brand new look and spirit as Oakville‘s only fullâ€"fledged supper club. After all, where else can you dance to Tommy Ambrose in between your soup, your salad and the main course? The idea obviâ€" ously paid off: opening night there were 70 reservations. "It was packed, not a seat in the place. Everyone had a great time," says Ambrose. "You could just see a market for great music and great food, to put them together with a dance floor and swing time music. There are lots of great places to dine in the area but we‘re giving people something to do after. I don‘t know of another place that‘s attempting what we‘re doing here. This is so needed in town." By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff The classic supper club â€" like most of the movie stars that made them famous â€" is a concept now virtually extinct. Instead of Bogart and Bacall romancing the night away, fast food and driveâ€"throughs are the order of the day ... until now. In 1986 it was purchased by Kurt Hasler, an accomplished chef who, after six years in business, was already thinking of major changes when he teamed up with Ambrose. By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff After being nominated every year for the Mayor‘s Awards for Business and the Arts, the Oakville Beaver took Runnerâ€"up honors in the Corporate category at a blackâ€"tie gala dinner April 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The fourâ€"year wait was worth it. In recognition of the newspaper‘s contribuâ€" tions, the Beaver was awarded a textile Mayor‘s Awards honor Oakville businesses Verdi‘s rekindles romantic past * Toronto Dominion Bank *+G:A.B. C: * Scotia bank * Hongkong Bank of Canada * Twin Oak Credit Union * Montreal Trust "I had a concept I‘d been talkâ€" ing to all kinds of people in the area about," agreed Ambrose, who lives in Oakville. "Kurt was in the middle of a change anyway and he picked up on the concept. It was perfect timing. We were on the same wavelength." The result is a supper club which features Ambrose â€" who has been entertaining audiences for 40 years â€" Tuesday through Saturday. On Friday and Saturday nights he‘s joined by the Norman Amadio Trio. Planned theme nights will feature the music of Nat Cole, Broadway and more. After playing his share of oneâ€" night stands and short runs, this unlimited engagement suits the musician just fine. According to Hasler, renovaâ€" tions include a new sound system and sunken dance floor. The demolition of several walls not only opened up the interior and improved sightâ€"lines but also made room for a new piano bar. "I wanted to do something difâ€" ferent so I sat down with Tommy to come up with a concept," said Hasler. "This is better than a lot of short gigs," explained Ambrose, who says Verdi‘s eliminates the need to head to the city. "This conâ€" cept allows us to really develop a following." "The piano bar really compleâ€" ments the dinner/dance area. It‘s a hip little arrangement you don‘t see too often," said Ambrose. "The place has a completely difâ€" ferent feel than it did three or four months ago." As for the food, chef Hasler is extremely proud of Verdi‘s northâ€" wallhanging by Sheridan College student Sheldon Schwitek. Accepting the work of art from mayor Ann Mulvale was publisher Ian Oliver who said Friday that the Beaver‘s support of the Oakville Centre and other groups was merely part of an overall effort by many area companies. "It was nice to be part of the circle of support the businesses in Oakville have for each other," said Oliver, adding that the wallhanging will be displayed at the paper‘s Speers Road office. "We would Verdi‘s owner Kurt Hasler (left) and entertainer Tommy Ambrose have combined forces to open the landmark Oakville restaurant as a supper ern Italian cuisine "with a "The food is Continental flavor." Fresh pasta beams Ambrose. and soups, for instance, are made With the con on the premises. Seafood is a speâ€" of Hasler and A cialty and at least six different speâ€" â€" cian has owned cials are featured every day. "new" Verdi‘s is not be able to do what we do without the other nominees. It all ties in together." In presenting the award to the newspaâ€" per, Mulvale said: "The Oakville Beaver is recognized this year for their financial support, inâ€"kind donations and innovation in facilitating sponsorships for art groups and programs." The paper has assisted the Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Oakville Galleries, the Children‘s Centre and the Oakville Waterfront Festival. It has secured local business sponsors for arts and cultural With the combined experience of Hasler and Ambrose (the musiâ€" cian has owned several clubs) the "new" Verdi‘s isn‘t a gamble at all. "The food is first class here," beams Ambrose. Central Guarantee Trust Royal Bank of Canada Bank of Montreal Canada Trust Halton Community Credit Union Manulife Bank of Canada club in the tradition of Bogart and Bacall. Ambrose performs Tuesday through Saturday. (Photo by Peter McCusker) rst class here," _ To hear Ambrose tell it, it‘s a sure thing. groups through its Phone Alone Infosource service and offset direct ticket costs for two performances of the Second City National Touring Company. Winner in the Corporate category was St. Lawrence Cement, which was awarded "Sixteen Mile Table" by Jim Marshall. "St. Lawrence Cement continues to go above and beyond what is expected of corâ€" porate sponsorship," said Mulvale. "Oakville Galleries, the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and the Oakville "I believe there‘s a lot of peoâ€" ple out there who want this," he says. (See "Local" Page 14) For reservations call 842â€"0374. "Surrounded" by charity Page 22