New life for the Norwood

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This article was published 21/10/2019 (2165 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The times they are a-changin’ at the Norwood.

Work is currently underway on the landmark Norwood Hotel, which is owned by Sparrow Hotels and located at 112 Marion St., on three new concepts — a new restaurant, tavern, and gaming lounge.

Officials say the inspiration for the upgrades came from the history of the hotel, the surrounding St. Boniface community, and the latest hospitality trends. At press time, the new features at the hotel were scheduled to be open at the end of October.  

According to a news release, the restaurant is called Pauline, and it’s described as having an old French bistro feel, serving simple, elegant food for breakfast and lunch. The name is inspired by Pauline Boutal, a well-known local artist who created fashions for Eaton’s during the 20th century.

The Wood Tavern is described as having been reimagined for a new generation of bar patrons, and the new design gives a nod to the building’s 82-year history as a tavern while recognizing the growing popularity of “camping-inspired” food, and there will also be several private dining spaces.

The Carousel gaming lounge is described as being a fresh take on the hotel’s VLT area, and it will have its own bar and comfortable seating, and be a tribute to the heyday of casinos.

“The Norwood Hotel has been around for a really long time, and (Sparrow Hotels chief executive officer) Ben Sparrow was really interested in elevating the space,” Dan Carlson, the hotel’s general manager, told The Lance recently, adding the new concepts will further add to the ongoing revitalization of the corner of Marion Street and Tache Avenue.  

“This section of Marion is undergoing a real revitalization, and when you look at other developments across the street such as the apartments at 300 Tache and the Black Bird (Brasserie), the next two blocks are becoming an area where more pedestrians want to be.”

Emily Patrician, who oversees the marketing for all Sparrow Hotels, said the renovations are bringing the hotel more in line with other members of the Sparrow Hotels family, including the Inn at the Forks, and she’s excited to open the doors to the new concepts to the local community, and beyond.

“We wanted to give St. Boniface a new destination spot, and we’re hoping to give our visitors a different experience,” Patrician said.

There are countless ingredients that have gone into the new renovations, and Carlson said one of the stars of the show will be a new open kitchen featuring an 88-inch live-fired grill, which will he thinks will be a recipe for success.

“The grill is going to be a game-changer,” Carlson said, adding the new menu will include items such wood-fired burgers, and house-smoked wings.

“It’s one of our unique features. The whole kitchen is open, and you’ll get to see what’s happening in the kitchen. It’s going to be a show for everyone, and part of the total experience.”

One example of the camping-inspired cuisine will be campfire cauliflower, Patrician said.

“It will be seasoned and smoked and cooked in olive oil over the flames, and it will be just one example of the unique items that we’ll be creating,” she said.

“People will still be able to get a burger and fries, but the quality will be really strong. People will have lots of options, including vegetarian options, and there will be a focus on locally sourced ingredients.”   

There will also be a large variety of draft beer available, Carlson added.

The renovations were designed by Calgary-based company FRANK, and constructed by Winnipeg-based firm PCL Construction.