Windsor Hotel May Become Parking Lot

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The Winnipeg Free Press reports the possible demolition of one of Winnipeg’s oldest music venues, the Windsor Hotel. According to their source, the building may be replaced by a parking lot sometime in the near future.

The Windsor has seen a plethora of blues acts grace its stage since it opened in the 1970s, and continues to be a favourite place for blues jams. Its destruction could be a terrible loss to the local music scene and to Winnipeg’s history. The owners of the Windsor applied to be put on Winnipeg’s heritage conservation list, but were denied status in 2005. This leaves the Windsor unprotected from a new owner’s decision to level the 107-year-old building.

According to the Free Press, an offer was made to buy the old hotel and bar by Boyd Newton, the co-owner of the Royal George in Transcona, and three partners, including former Windsor owner Rick Penner, but they were turned down.

There is already a “Save the Windsor” Facebook group and online petition. For those who want to brave the cold and show their support for the Winnipeg institution, a rally is scheduled for January 9 at 2pm outside the Windsor.

UPDATE: The
Free Press reported on January 7 that there are no plans for the Windsor to be demolished. Click here to read the story.

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