our story
The Next Act isn't just a pub, it’s over thirty years of Edmonton history poured into a pint glass. From our 1992 debut in the heart of the theatre district, to expanding our family of restaurants on one corner of the Whyte Ave district, our timeline is a celebration of local ownership, craft ingredients, and the community that built us. Explore the journey of one of Old Strathcona’s oldest neighborhood hangouts.
1987
Mike, age 8, serving coffee outside the then Java Jive/Old Strathcona Coffee Factory, which would one day become The Next Act.
1992
The original The Next Act Pub opens! Owned by family members of Mike, Michael and Barry Ould.
august 2010
Childhood friends Mike, Nate, and Saylish purchase The Next Act and re-open it on August 5th, 2010.
2012–2014
The crew rolls out The Act Out & About food truck. 2 years filled with serving up burgs and fries in the community. In 2013, we were featured on the TV show, Eat St.
may 2014
We open our second restaurant, MEAT, right next door!
august 2014
We're featured on the TV show Best In Chow, and win the title of Edmonton's Best Burger!
2015
The Next Act named Avenue's Best Burger!
2016
We've got Avenue's Best Burger, again!
2017
The Next Act celebrates 25 years of existence!
2017
We top Avenue's Best Between Bread category.
october 2017
Our third restaurant, Pip, opens!
2018
We're named among Avenue's top 3 Tried & True Restaurants.
august 2020
The "New" Next Act, under our ownership, turns 10!
2020
The Next Act is crowned Avenue's Best Pub.
fall 2022
Our fourth restaurant, Pals, opens! Pip expands, moving into their new space across the street, next to Pals.
2023
We enter the Edify top 3 Tried & True Restaurants, again!
may 2023
Our fifth (and final?) restaurant, Marlo, opens in the old Pip corner.
december 2023
December 23rd, your favourite burger buddy, Bunjamin, is born!
august 2025
We've had The Next Act for 15 years!
2025
Third times a charm for Edify's Top 3 Tried & True Restaurants.
our team
Sam Lacey-Avon
General Manager
On a cold January night in 2012, young Sam interviewed at The Next Act and was hired promptly. Over the years, she's learned from some incredible professionals working with the Next Act team and found herself falling in love with hospitality and the community. After a three year hiatus in Europe, she returned and found all of her experience had crystallized into a clear passion for the pub and its people. After all these years, Sam feels really lucky to be the one who gets to run the show - but if you know Sam, you know that we're the lucky ones!
Jesse Chalmers
Head Chef
Jesse has been with The Next Act since 2018 and our head chef since 2022, but his experience dates back to 2000. His passion for food began early, cooking for his younger siblings. What started as a way to care for others has grown into a leadership style rooted in creativity, where Jesse loves developing new dishes and empowering his team to do the same.
Michael Rebalkin,
Saylish Haas,
Nathan McLaughlin
Owners
Childhood friends Saylish Haas, Michael Rebalkin, and Nathan McLaughlin are the team behind some of Old Strathcona’s favourite spots - The Next Act, MEAT, Pip, Pals, and Marlo - all conveniently tucked into one lively corner of the neighbourhood. Before striking out on their own, each of them honed their craft in different ways. Mike found himself managing a few restaurants for the Joey group in Seattle and Vancouver; Nathan earned his Red Seal and cooked his way through kitchens at Earls, Joey, and the Fairmont; and Saylish built a strong business foundation as a regional manager with Urban Barn. After a trip to Mexico in 2010, the three decided to take the leap and buy The Next Act. From there, things grew naturally, as neighbouring spaces became available. Over the years, they’ve been proud to help shape Old Strathcona’s food scene and contribute to Edmonton’s dining culture, one restaurant at a time. For this trio it’s always been about the same simple things: great food, welcoming spaces, and being part of a community they love.
have you met the family?
