Stella's Coming to Courts of St. James

 

Courts of St. James towers began in the planning phases 56 years ago in 1965. Construction took place in the years that followed with a real push from 1967 to 1970 when all three towers, recreation facilities and mall were completed. In the beginning it had a Dominion store anchoring the mall along with a bank and restaurants.

Construction costs back then were $12 million and Lakeview and Confederation Life were the builders. The entire 9.5 acre site was a success right of the gates and Lakeview went on to repeat the mixed developed format downtown with Lakeview's Holiday Towers and hotel attaches to the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s a lot was happening all over in St. James. It seemed down every street was new housing and developments. But for years it also seemed like the bald prairie with trees taking years to mature. Still, you hear fond memories for those that grew up in the area and today, you see block and after block being spruced up.

The green belt that follows Sturgeon Creeks was a lifesaver for many in the time of the pandemic. With Portage Avenue looking more empty that usual, it was easy to see how barren as well as how old some store fronts were. There are renovations going on up and down the street and leasing signs popping up.

Some of the activity is driven by cannabis retailers and having a retail strip that looks like nothing has been done since the 1960s or 70s won't do. Many empty storefronts the last number of years have meant no one was interested with either the price, the look or the size.

The level of apartment building in Winnipeg has triggered older developments to put through long awaited upgrades. Courts of St. James is no different. As the pandemic dragged on, many businesses saw it as a time to get ahead of the curve. In recent weeks, the retail side of the mixed development was re-done and with a fresh paved lot. Some businesses have returned. But others are gone for good.

Legends Bar and Grill in the back of the development continues to operate. 

As does Dollarama.

However, the loss of Sal's meant there was room for something new.

It looks like the Courts of St. James has found it in Stella's. It is probably as much needed for Stella's as it is for the mall. The long time restaurant was hurt from labour relations and resulted in a union which the company had no response to other that shutting locations down. Sherbrook and Osborne Village shut among others. Still, locations such as Pembina, Provencher and Portage near Art Galleryn have proven to be lucrative.

The above spot Stella's has chosen is where the old Bank of Montreal was at Courts of St. James. This is deliberate presumably as the wide sidewalks lend themselves to patios. The old sidewalks were too narrow for that. It is why nearly all the former tenants were service companies like denture clinics and law offices.

Stella's won't be the only restaurant addition. Red Swan Pizza has also leased a space which should be welcome to the people who live in St. James.

There are only a few spots left to lease but with high traffic volumes with restaurants roaring back from the pandemic and three sixteen floors towers behind the mall, it is hard to imagine them staying empty for long.

Meanwhile, the view across the street to Woodhave Park and the now red T-33 training aircraft representing the former Red Knights is an attractive scene.

The Hy's Patio at Portage and Main

Hy's Steakhouse is like a lot of restaurants that have had to shut down multiple times. In their case, the loss of the office crowd the last 18 months amplified the pain.  Many places have had to come up with other ways to reach their customers.

For the last several months the Richardson Family has upgraded everything around their buildings. With so many office towers going up or being upgraded, it would not do for Winnipeg's iconic Richardson Building not to get an upgrade. Public art, trees, lighting and paved areas with garden and greenery have really helped.

Hy's first came to Winnipeg and stood on Kennedy Street from 1958 to 2005. It was known as Hy's Steak  Loft back then. The original was Hy's in Calgary in 1955.  It went on to spread to locations across Canada.

The move to the Richardson Building was accompanied by a name change to Hy's Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar. The same rich textures and colour of the old Kennedy building remained as well as the continued success.

However, as mentioned, Covid 19 has reduced or closed restaurants over the last 18 months. Even now, it will be a slow return to offices and schools. As such many long time restaurants and hotels and open patios which they might not have done had they not had to think innovatively. The Fort Garry Hotel put up a lovely patio and Times Change(d) and Modern Lunch took over last year's Beer Can to set up the Blue Note Park. Beer Can moved to the Granite Club.

Hy's Steakhouse has opened a patio that looks out to Portage and Main. It is hard to imagine that they would ever think of going back to not having one. It certainly looks like it belongs.

As more festivals, concerts and other activities begin all over town, the restaurants that put up a patio will have a new customer stream that wishes to enjoy the outdoors.

The inward looking of some hotels and restaurants over the last decades may have turned a corner during the pandemic. Hope they keep the outdoor aspect in the decades to come.