Windsor Hotel

There's a rally this Saturday to save it from the wrecking ball, but who knows if it is really in danger of closing?

Is it worth saving?

I don't know if they are profitable, but losing another music venue would be very disappointing. I go to the Windsor from time to time. It's a good place. There used to be three blues bars within a one or two block radius: Times Change(d), the Windsor, and Lenny's. You could throw the Blue Note in there too. Soon there may only be one.

heh talk about
paving paradise to put up a parking lot

And I aint refering to the windsor.

so umm why exactly did you post the same link as Trin?

Just to make your day dean! I truly hope they don't demolish the Windsor. I like that bar.

heh sure now I sit here trying to figure out which post is yours....


Its a nice enough place, but its a privately owned business. If he (and Mitz's .. boo ) want to sell to someone, thats their choice.

I dont understand this need of a new parking lot though.. whats the parking lot north of the Canada Post site used for? Oh right... parking for the Canada post building.

If we can get 4,000 people out willing to donate $100 each to the owners, they will stop the demolition!

nope
they already turned down 1 million

My guess is the current owner can't earn enough revenue to keep the building open. If they simply close they still have to pay the same property taxes. It they raze the building they pay less property taxes, likely earn more revenue, and wait until a better offer comes along from a developer.

Pure business.

If we, the City of Winnipeg, wish to discourage surface parking lots, change the property tax structure such that there is no benefit to raze buildings. Then provide tax incentives to make something else out of the property..

What a joke. No doubt there will be suckers to line up and give them some money.
I had the misfortune of having to attend there 4 times in December (a tenant matter upstairs). The place is a total dump in every way. Not once did I see a person in the beverage room (as I passed by the entry) other than the 2 goon staffers. The smells upstairs need not be discussed. They'd be doing those low-lifers a favour by demolishing it immediately. If I hear the words "heritage building" I will pack up and leave this damn city behind.

Ya know Jondo, you keep offering to pack up and leave... One of these day's I'll insist that you poop or get off the pot.

The last time I attended the bar was probably around Sept 2008. I don't know how much it has deteriorated since then, but I certainly enjoyed myself there. It was certainly a little dive-y, but the room was packed, and the crowd was diverse and well mannered.

grumpy old man wrote:Ya know Jondo, you keep offering to pack up and leave... One of these day's I'll insist that you poop or get off the pot.

I'm not in a holding pattern - that's real sentiment. One more jackass decision in this province or City and I will not be able to tolerate it. I travel a fair bit and have business in other provinces. YOU'D have to leave in order to fully comprehend the differences here versus elsewhere. The Windsor shot was specific to the Heritage deparment which has developers balls in their hands - which hinders development activity downtown. Not even to mention other aspects of doing business in Wpg.

Hey Jondo, by chance are you rrskylar from Skyscraper Forum?

Edwin - never heard of either. I'm not a serial-blogger.
You know, on this Windsor thing - I was there about 12 years ago. We made a point of going to see Dave McLean after hearingf about this great haunt. One of those seedy places where you'd check to make sure they gave you a dirty glass. That's the kind of thing that makes those places what they are. But when I was recently there - I was telling the door-goon about being there years ago and he'd never heard of Dave McLean. The place looks to be run by the Indian Posse - based on the clientelle in and around this frightful place. There's nothing to save inside either - it's a dump. But my point is - as obvious as that is - it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the City got it's nose into this business and declared it Heritage. They've said that's not the case - yet. That could change by the end of the week.

EdWin - there is no shrouding of Jondo's identity. He's an almost 4 yr old boy with rainbows shooting out of his head.

Perhaps I'm having a blonde moment, but thats really impossible, but how does this place rate any discussion of being a heritage building? If they can do that, then VJ's on Main should be listed as well based on it being an outstanding greasy food joint.

It's 100 + yrs old with a lot of history including that Charlie Chaplin stayed and performed there 5 times during the '10s. A famous letter that he authoured was on that Hotels stationary - or something like that. I heard some musings about the chance of this happening but of course - it may very well not be the case.

Thats all very nice, but it is nowhere near the condition that it was when Chaplin stayed there, so back to my question, how does it fit any criteria?

I was at the Windson a few months back and it was exactly the same as it always has been. When local bands play there is no cover so of course some riff raff show up but when they have out of town acts there is cover and no riff raff. So I guess the secret is to charge cover so you can keep the riff raff out!

Obviously. There are more factors than current condition. They've ruled in the past that entire buildings are not worth saving but that, for example, the facade MUST stay.