I think there still is an SRO hotel component to the Oxford. It's required for them to have a titty bar licence.
I think Zaifman was blowing hot air about the St. Charles, just seeing if the could get a bigger chunk of vacant land to throw in with the hotel to flip it. If they were so serious about development and had the financing at such a stage that the building behind had to be demolished now, now, now some sort of plan B would have fallen into place.
It will be interesting to see how the Albert meshes a punk bar with boutique hotel. They're supposed to be the relaxing, classy alternative to a big box hotel and usually charge a bit of a premium for that. It will be interesting to see if you could do both under the same roof. Hurrah that he's taking that bloody atrium down.
Today's article implies that something is afoot at the St. Charles - not sure if that's still accurate given the fact that the demolition wasn't allowed to proceed, but I certainly hope it is.
I agree that it's great that the Royal Albert's glass box out front is coming down. I hope the renovations and new business plan are successful...
[quote][cite] mrchristian:[/cite]You'd be pretty hard pressed to find too many decent sized ground level retail spaces in that area now. The Fairchild building - what is meant to be on the main floor there ? Retail or part of the residential block ?
Did I see Penthouse selling out ? Is it a clearance sale or a closure sale ?
C[/quote]
Penthouse Furniture after 80 plus years is shutting its doors, thats what the word in the Exchange is anyway. I walked around the H. Edelman block today, it looks like almost the whole first floor is for lease, after Penthouse pulls out it will be quite a bit of prime exchange retail space up for grabs.
[quote][cite] zander:[/cite]Can't be the case. That would make way too much sense. ;)[/quote] <p> No kidding. Must be another sign that the downtown area is falling further and further into horrible decline.
A longtime Winnipeg furrier is shutting its doors after more than a half-a-century in business. Harry Reiss and his brother, Sam, have operated Reiss Furs and Fine Fashion for 56 years. They are retiring in March. Both are in their mid-70s.
He said none of their children was interested in taking over the fur business.
Although Reiss Furs has a steady clientele, the industry has been in decline for decades.
Harry said the Winnipeg fur industry -- including manufacturing, tanning and retail -- once employed 900 people. Today, only a tiny fraction of that are in the business.
Harry Reiss owns the building at 275 McDermot Ave. that houses the store. He and his wife also own Bedford Investments, which plans to build a parkade on nearby King Street. _____________ Aww...< /end sarcasm >