13°c Overcast
12°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Chez Sophie to replace Sals on Esplanade Riel
Restaurant on the bridge. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Related Items
Stephane Wild runs Chez Sophie in St. Boniface. (JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)
Bistro and pizza parlour Chez Sophie has been chosen to replace Salisbury House in the restaurant space on Esplanade Riel.
On March 4, city council's downtown, riverbank and heritage committee will consider a deal that would grant a five-year lease for pedestrian-bridge restaurant space to Chez Sophie, which has become a St. Boniface culinary fixture since it opened on Avenue de la Cathedrale in 2005.
The deal would see Chez Sophie spend $150,000 to $200,000 on renovations, which may include a gift shop. Rent would be free the first year, due to the renovations, and then $2,000 a month in years two to five
In January, the city issued a search for tenants interested in the space on the pedestrian bridge, which connects downtown to St. Boniface. A total of three responded and toured the facility.
A five-year deal with the Salisbury House restaurant chain expired in 2010 but was continued until 2012, when Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith began asking questions about why no new lease has been negotiated. Some leases come with overhold clauses that require tenants to pay higher rates if leases extend beyond their original terms.
The city and Sals entered into new negotiations late last year, leading to what an official with the restaurant chain called a tentative deal. But the city said in a report those negotiations were unsuccessful.
St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal said this morning he is pleased Chez Sophie will be the tenant.
"They have come half way around world to be restauranteurs and they are taking on their greatest challenge," he said via email. "(You) gotta love that. And I believe they will build partnerships with St. Boniface that Sals simply couldn't."
History
Updated on Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 9:30 AM CST: Updated and new headline
10:38 AM: adds photo
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Second man charged in 2012 slaying
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- Accused in alleged smartphone scam charged
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Leaving a gang isn't easy — Sidney Letandre, now a paraplegic, knows it all too well
- Police identify slaying victims
- Police make grow-op bust
- Province announces service for Elijah Harper
- North End proud
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province announces service for Elijah Harper
- North End proud
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Police make grow-op bust
- Leaving a gang isn't easy — Sidney Letandre, now a paraplegic, knows it all too well
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Rejected by U of M, former Winnipegger became rocket scientist
- Happily selling shoes at age 89
- Veterans' tribute at school restored
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Ochre Beach residents are 'thankful everybody got out'
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Giving your money, and expertise, to charity
- WestJet to add Brandon
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- Black market in moose thrives
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.