Return of the Revolving Restaurant

Prairie 360 was the last tenant of the three story revolving restaurant at the top of the Fort Garry Place apartments behind the Fort Garry Hotel. In 2020, Covid pretty much killed any business that was buffet style. There was other aspects of the business but any restaurant requiring an elevator to get it during a pandemic likely would have struggled. And so the revolving stopped.

A few other things happened as well. The owner of Edison properties Miriam Bergen died in 2022. And while the nearly 30 properties and 200 workers continued, ownership was gifted to Winnipeg Foundation in the largest charitable gift of its kind in Canadian history. Fort Garry Place and the restaurant above it are still owned by Winnipeg Foundation.

Edison manages itself but having a stable ownership has been helpful. Investing in the properties rather than living off the $500 million ownership is important. The restaurant needs mechanical and other work to get the wheel rolling. What it didn't have was an operator that was experienced with the logistics and experience for a very large restaurant. That changed when the former executive chef of Prairie 360 came to look at some of the kitchen items to support his restaurants that he owns presently. 

Alfonso Maury, the former chef, now owns the Argentine specialty food La Pampa Empanadas Gourmet stores that makes a variety of empanadas. He was the longtime owner of Corrientes Argentine Pizzeria in the Exchange till he sold last year. The last thing he and his wife were looking for was a new restaurant. He was only looking for equipment for his gourmet shops.

The meeting of the Edison people and Maury was fortuitous. Edison was willing to invest in facility upgrades and Maury was willing to manage and new enterprise. And Dos Pampas Skyline took root. The revolving restaurant that was first built in 1988 ran operations till 2008 but a further lease could not be agreed to. It sat idle till 2013 when Prairie 360 took over and ran till 2020 when Covid hammered it.

Maury envisages a steakhouse and an Argentina influence elsewhere in the menu. Winnipeggers are familiar with that cuisine as Corrientes has been a fixture since 2012.

The excitement from some radio stations, TV and print media to the story is a much needed shot in the arm for the downtown after a number of restaurants have closed. No time was set for a re-opening. Edison probably has some work to prep the site but given the public enthusiasm, it is unlikely they will keep the public waiting forever.