Film crew transforms Cambridge pizza shop
A Cambridge pizza restaurant got a temporary makeover this week, turning into a fictitious donut shop as part of a film production.
Although not officially confirmed, the project is widely believed to be the Amazon TV series “Reacher,” which has filmed in the city before.
“It's kind of weird, but super cool at the same time,” said Andrea Theophanous, owner of Cyprianna's Pizzeria, which was turned into “Dinky’s Joe and Go” for the shoot. “My kids are all excited about it. We took a bunch of pictures yesterday.”
“I was approached last year or they mentioned that they were looking at a spot around here for to do a scene for a really popular show for Amazon.”
Theophanous said while the negotiations took a while, the total makeover of her Queen Street storefront was very quick.
Crews arrived Tuesday morning and had the place looking like a New England coffee and donut spot by 2 p.m. Filming started Wednesday morning and was expected to last until 8 p.m.
Nearby businesses were happy to see the action in their neighbourhood.
“I’m a big fan,” said David Mandryk of Hespeler Physiotherapy. “Hopefully [I] get a selfie.”
Filming will move to a different location in Hespeler Thursday.
What else has been filmed in Cambridge?
Cambridge has played host to several major productions over the past several years including The Handmaid’s Tale, The Queen’s Gambit, American Gods and Murdoch Mysteries.
In 2022, Richard Gere left quite an impression on a Galt pizza shop owner when he stopped in for a meal and a cup of tea while filming nearby.
“There's lots of nice old architecture here, and actually a lot of really interesting places,” said Robin Steed with the Hespeler Village BIA.
Despite the temporary impacts on traffic, film projects are a big boost for the community.
“The people come to see what's going on and they'll sort of spill out into the local restaurants, cafes and stuff,” Steed said.
It’s also a reason for Cambridge residents to get excited about their hometown.
“It also just brings attention to Hespeler,” Steed said. “Not everybody knows the place and so brings up visibility.”
According to the city, other exciting projects could be on the way this summer, but there’s nothing to announce yet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
'Decades-long fight': MPs unanimously pass 'anti-scab' legislation
A bill that would ban federal employers from using replacement workers or 'scabs' during lockouts or strikes passed the House of Commons unanimously on Monday.
Netanyahu acknowledges 'tragic mistake' after Rafah strike kills dozens of Palestinians
Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Monday that a 'tragic mistake' had been made after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians and killed at least 45 people.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
81-year-old arrested after police say he terrorized a California neighbourhood with a slingshot
An 81-year-old man who investigators say terrorized a Southern California neighbourhood for years with a slingshot has been arrested, police said.