13°c Overcast
10°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Royal Albert not re-opening this weekend
The Royal Albert Arms hasn’t had a band on its stage since May 2011. In the months since, the building to the left of it in this photograph burned to the ground.
The Royal Albert Arms won’t be opening up this weekend after all.
Owners of the historic hotel/music venue were trying to finish renovations to the bar for a grand reopening on Friday after being closed for more than a year -- but haven’t completed the necessary repairs and paperwork.
"Due to permit issues and outstanding work on our sprinkler system, we’ve agreed it’s not possible to make our September 7th opening," said a statement posted on the Albert’s Facebook page.
The statement goes on to say they are looking at re-opening in late September or early October and will start to host bands beginning next month.
"Once again we apologize for the pain in the (butt), to put it politely, it’s been to wait this long, and we thank you for your patience and understanding. We promise we won’t let you down. See you soon," the statement says.
The property has been undergoing renovations all summer. The historic Exchange District music venue and hotel has been closed since May 2011 when a water-line break flooded the basement. City crews helped control the leak, but left responsibility for repairs to the hotel because the break was located on private property.
Owner Daren Jorgenson disputed the account, claiming the city broke a valve on an abandoned pipe, and the property has remained closed ever since.
Pictures posted on the hotel’s Facebook site show new hardwood flooring and the exposure of windows behind the stage. A wall near the entrance has been removed so patrons will now enter directly into the bar. Visitors to the area will also notice a fresh coat of paint to the south side of the building, including the 'Royal Albert Arms Hotel' lettering.
A City of Winnipeg spokesperson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, but as of mid-August, the owners of the hotel had yet to apply for any permits or have its sprinkler system inspected by city officials.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 22 articles for today)
WRHA to speak in Ottawa on successful programs
8:58 AM 0The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority will be in Ottawa Tuesday to meet with MPs and tell them about the success ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- City's first urban reserve born
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Jockey club launches $350-M civil suit against province
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- City set to seize derelict hotel
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Decades-old smoke bomb found behind Crescentwood home
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- The end of the credit card?
- 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
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '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
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- City's first urban reserve born
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Jockey club launches $350-M civil suit against province
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- City set to seize derelict hotel
- Carving out a niche in traditional art
- Baby steps toward empathy
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- North End proud
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- 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.