Met makeover about to begin

Opinion

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This article was published 30/03/2009 (6012 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The curtain is about to rise on the long-awaited restoration and redevelopment of the historic Metropolitan Theatre.

The Canad Inns corporation plans to launch the first phase of the project within the next two months, company president and chairman Leo Ledohowski said in an interview.

"We’ll start as soon as the weather breaks," Ledohowski said, adding the plan is to work on the exterior of the Donald Street landmark first, then tackle the interior.

Canad Inns plans to convert the 90-year-old movie theatre into what Ledohowski described as "a super supper club" featuring food and beverages and entertainment. It will also cater to special events such as high school graduation dinners and corporate functions. One night a week it may also operate as a nightclub.

"We’re not finished with all of the plans yet," he said. "But it will be the finest establishment of its kind in the city."

Because some details still need to be worked out, it’s unclear how long it will take to complete the project. Ledohowski said the hope is to complete it either this year or in 2010.

Asked how much the company plans to spend, he said, "I would be surprised if $10 million covers it."

CentreVenture Development Corp., the city’s downtown development agency, has been trying for more than four years to breathe new life into the former Famous Players movie palace, which has been vacant since 1987.

The original plan was to redevelop it as a combined food and entertainment venue/non-profit rock ‘n’ roll museum. Ledohowksi was also involved in that initiative along with a number of other prominent Winnipeg businessmen, including James Richardson & Sons president and CEO Hartley Richardson, Canwest Global president and CEO Leonard Asper, Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman, Western Glove Works/Winnipeg Free Press co-owner Bob Silver, and guitar strap manufacturer David Levy.

But that plan failed to get off the ground, so Canad Inns subsequently made a successful bid to acquire the theatre and a neighbouring commercial building to redevelop it on its own, but without the music-museum component.

John Einarson, a local writer and music historian who was associated with the earlier proposal, said the problem was trying to find a way to combine the museum and food and entertainment functions.

"Where it kind of broke down was in working out the relationship between the two entities and developing the nuts and bolts of the relationship and how it would work. We did share a similar vision, but when it came down to it, we just couldn’t make it happen."

While that proposal died, Einarson said the idea of establishing a non-profit museum to celebrate Manitoba music "is still very much alive."

He said work is still going on behind the scenes to establish a museum at a different location, but declined to elaborate. "At this point it’s premature."

Canad Inns had originally hoped to start on the redevelopment project before the end of 2007. But CentreVenture president and CEO Ross McGowan said he’s confident that this time it will proceed as planned.

Although the building has suffered interior water damage over the years, McGowan and Ledohowski said the city and Canad Inns have kept it heated during the winter months for the last 20-plus years.

"So the interior is in remarkably good condition," McGowan said.

Canad Inns’ development agreement with CentreVenture calls for it to restore as many of the Met’s original design components as possible, including the front facade, main entrance and mezzanine. Some elements destroyed during previous renovations also will be reconstructed.

Because it is a costly undertaking and involves a designated heritage building, McGowan said Canad Inns would qualify for city heritage tax credits that could amount to between $500,000 and $1 million over 10 years. He said CentreVenture is also willing to help the company lobby for federal or provincial aid.

Ledohowski said the company hasn’t decided what kind of government help it will be seeking.

But he reaffirmed the company’s commitment to retaining as many of the building’s original features as possible. "It will be exactly the way it was built except instead of the (theatre) seating, it will have tables and chairs."

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murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca

Heritage building gets fresh start

THE former Metropolitan Theatre is about to get a new lease on life. Here’s what’s involved:

Where is it? On Donald Street just south of Portage Avenue.

What is it? A historic movie house. Built by Ontario’s Allen family, it opened in 1919 as the Allen Theatre and four years later was renamed the Metropolitan Theatre after being acquired by Famous Players. It continued to operate it as a Famous Players venue until 1987, and has been vacant since then.

Who’s redeveloping it? Winnipeg-based Canad Inns hotel and entertainment chain, which acquired it in 2007 from the city’s CentreVenture Development Corp.

What will it become? The 2,300-seat theatre is being converted into a "super supper club" that will also cater to special events such as high school graduations and corporate functions. One night a week it may also operate as a nightclub.

When does the work begin? Within the next two months.

When will it be completed? Either this year or in 2010.

What’s being done? Phase 1 involves removing a false canopy and restoring the original front facade. The bricks will be repointed and new windows and interior back-lighting for the windows will be installed. A small commercial building immediately south of the theatre also will be demolished. That lot initially will be used for parking, but eventually an attached structure could be built to house a new kitchen for the theatre.

Phase 2 will involve the restoration of the interior, removal of the original theatre seats, and construction of a multi-level floor with dinner tables and chairs on each level. The 2,000-square-foot stage would be retained.

What is a supper club? Canad Inns is still working out the details and hasn’t said what the Met venue will offer. However, according to Wikipedia (a free online encyclopedia), a supper club is traditionally a casual or relaxed "destination" where patrons go to spend the evening. That includes having cocktails, dinner, and staying to enjoy nightclub-style entertainment after dinner.

— Murray McNeill