Turning an oasis into a desert

South Osborne

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/10/2024 (336 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As of Nov. 5, the transformation will be complete – the Cambridge Hotel will close, and with it South Osborne, once in the middle of an oasis, will become a “beer desert.”

The Osborne Village Motor Inn was the first domino to fall; a few years later, the Pembina Hotel followed suit. Both are in advanced stages of being replaced by mixed-use housing developments.

The Cambridge won’t be knocked down right away – an extension has been granted to developers so they can complete their rezoning application – but it will close. Soon enough any trace of all three will have been wiped away forever.

And the kids of today will never know what they missed.

There is no question that adding to housing stock is of far greater importance than having an abundance of dated taprooms and beer vendors, and the very idea of a “beer desert” – admittedly lifted from the concept of a “food desert,” or an area that has limited access to grocery options – is trivial in comparison with a community’s real necessities. Further, there are plenty of great pubs, venues, and restaurants nearby.

But a solution might be on the way.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries recently announced its plan to build six new pop-up locations in grocery stores across Winnipeg. In a fast-growing community with no other options within a comfortable walking distance, could the Safeway in South Osborne be a perfect location?

Anyone who has shopped there is probably wondering whether there is room. The Safeway at Osborne Street and Kylemore Avenue is on the smaller side, but a simple reconfiguration of floor space near the south entrance could easily clear up a few hundred square feet for a kiosk, and the increase in traffic would very likely more than make up for any revenue lost from the sale of flowers.

Safety is also a concern, especially for employees. The same south entrance has already been closed off, apparently owing to theft, and increased security at Liquor Mart locations across Winnipeg is evidence that this could pose an issue. A solution would have to be devised, but that would likely be the case no matter where the MLCC decides to go.

Still, something will be lost that amounts to more than simple convenience.

For anyone who might develop a taste for late-night hops – say after a show at the Park Theatre, or a night at Leo’s – this solves nothing. The only solution is a new beer vendor, but archaic Manitoba liquor laws still require these to be attached to hotels, and it is unlikely a new one will be built any time soon.

For the young and energetic, waiting in line at the vendor to get in before close is where many great plans and foggy memories have been made. For the kids of today who will be the youth of tomorrow, it is an experience they’ll probably never have.

Won’t somebody think of the children?