Downtown looking up

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This article was published 31/07/2024 (450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Amit Saini is focused on getting boujee burgers to the public as it wants them, when it wants them.

“There’s a lot of things we are learning,” said the new restaurateur.

He and his partners opened Boujee Restaurant & Bar in the former Earls Main Street location last April. It was one of six businesses to open in the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s parameters between April and June — marking a second consecutive quarterly net gain in businesses for the area.

It’s a change from the pandemic and post-pandemic era trend of net business losses and stagnancy. Early 2024 — January through March — brought for the first time more companies opening than closing in Downtown Winnipeg.

“I find this location pretty fascinating,” Saini said of Boujee. “This is the perfect location.”

It’s steps from The Forks and it brings memories for plenty of people, he elaborated. Himself included — he used to dine at the former Earls.

He said he visited the new Earls Main location, just down the street, and felt a longing for its former 191 Main St. digs.

After a seafood eatery’s brief stint inside, Saini and entrepreneurial friends jumped at the vacancy. Now, they have 50 staff and weekends booked with events.

It’s busy — but it could be busier, Saini relayed.

“We… need a little bit more development in our downtown so people are more comfortable coming.”–Amit Saini

“After 8 or 9 (p.m.), it dies down so much that you barely see anyone walking outside,” he said. “We… need a little bit more development in our downtown so people are more comfortable coming.”

More foot traffic, more businesses — Saini said he hopes to see both.

It’s a work in progress, explained Kate Fenske, chief executive of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re out of the woods yet,” she said of the net gain in downtown businesses — a net gain of one, because five operations closed — this spring.

The business improvement zone released its second-quarter results Wednesday. It clocked a 23.5 per cent boost in downtown visitors from the same timeframe in 2023.

Special events and sports continue to lead the masses to the city’s core. Upwards of 10,000 people walked in the Pride parade in June and the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Goldeyes drew roughly 49,000 and 65,000 fans, respectively, in the year’s second quarter. The Winnipeg Jets’ Whiteout parties attracted tens of thousands.

Roughly three-quarters of Winnipeg residents have spent money at downtown restaurants and entertainment over the past year, the BIZ found via a Probe Research poll.

Fenske expressed optimism about the area’s future. There are more noticeable safety patrols downtown — a result of the downtown safety action plan, funded by the province for 2024-25. Safety concerns, real and perceived, are a constant challenge for downtown growth, Fenske noted.

The core’s office vacancy rate remains high — 18.6 per cent — but Fenske has noticed quick property sales, she said.

She pointed to the progress on Sutton Place Hotel and the Manitoba Métis Federation’s downtown acquisitions: “It’s encouraging to see that folks are still investing in downtown because they believe in it.”

There’s still a need to address “immediate concerns” and to coordinate a plan with all levels of government regarding the future of downtown, Fenske continued.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re out of the woods yet.”–Kate Fenske, chief executive of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ

“We have to make sure that we don’t let up,” she said. “It’s really making sure that we’re all on the same page.”

All levels of government seem to be concordant — there’s a “real opportunity” to lay groundwork and make the core a neighbourhood, she added.

Carrington Real Estate took possession of 185 Donald St., a stalled housing development, in 2024’s second quarter.

“We wanted to be part of what is a revitalizing downtown and, hopefully, a bright future for Winnipeg’s downtown,” said Sam Goszer, the firm’s CEO.

Goszer cited pandemic-era inflation, interest rates and differing lending approaches as reasons the 14-floor apartment block ended up in court proceedings with a previous developer.

The city is looking to support housing developments through its federally funded housing accelerator fund — especially affordable units and those in Winnipeg’s core. Carrington Real Estate hadn’t yet taken on a downtown project and the languishing building seemed a good fit, Goszer relayed.

Upwards of 20 per cent of the 161 luxury suites would be for affordable units, should funding through the housing accelerator fund come, Goszer added. The Keg Steakhouse and Bar will reside on the first floor.

Others who planted new roots in Downtown Winnipeg last quarter had positive remarks about the area.

“It’s kind of in the middle of everywhere,” said Carter Bourke.

He moved Stack House Jewellery, a destination shop for jewellery enthusiasts, to Cityplace in April. He’d previously taken space in a Garry Street office for a year.

Overall, the company has “grown tremendously” from its Portage la Prairie origins, Bourke said.

Emilia Cameron, a manager at the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, called Winnipeg a “hidden gem.”

The Ontario native is occupying a Broadway office and plans to draw clients — real estate stakeholders, municipal employees — to teach ways of creating weather-resilient homes.

“We’re definitely heading in the right direction,” Fenske reiterated. “I am hopeful.”

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com