After more than a year of renovations, the Boathouse in Kitchener’s Victoria Park is set to open this month.

James Barr, part of the Walkinshaw Holdings investment group that will operate the restaurant and music venue, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo The morning edition host Craig Norris The Boathouse will open on November 22.

“It’s great. We’re busy. We’re moving towards the final things, we’ve put the furniture together, we’re setting up the room for audio,” he said. “We feel good. Nervous, but so is it, we can’t believe we’re here.”

The building has undergone a number of renovations, including a large patio with space for an outdoor bar and grill area, new restrooms and an upgraded stage and bar. The single wall was also replaced with glass doors to provide views of the lake.

“The kitchens have been revamped, the menu has been revamped,” Barr said, noting that food will also be available starting Nov. 22.

Live music will play a big role in The Boathouse, Barr said, although they are still working on booking artists.

“The idea is we’re going to bring in touring artists, we’re going to bring in some of the best local talent and we’re also going to open up the stage to people who are trying to cut their teeth in the area, like oh well,” said -he said.

History of the boathouse

The Boathouse is a council property located on Jubilee Drive, next to Lake Victoria Park. It was built in 1929 and has always served as a concert hall, but has experienced closures over the past ten years.

In 2013, the room is closed after tenants fell behind on rent and utility payments. It reopened in 2015 but closed abruptly in October 2019 and has remained empty ever since.

In 2021, the city reported having delay in issuing requests for proposals to find a new tenant due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges facing the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The city announced the Walkinshaw Holdings proposal to run The Boathouse in August 2022, and at that time the city said it hoped the venue would open by spring 2023.

It didn’t happen like the renovation work was not approved by the municipal council until April 2023. Construction site fencing I walked around the building in August 2023.

I hope to attract visitors, people living downtown

Barr says they know The Boathouse’s recent past has been a roller coaster and opening a restaurant can be a risky business, but he thinks they have a fantastic location being in the park and they hope to attract people who live in the city center.

“I think what we’re concerned about is what happens on cold days, when people don’t want to walk from King Street to the town square, right?” he said. “But we also have such a huge community downtown that I think there’s a certain balance, right?”

In a press release, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said he was “beyond excited” to see The Boathouse reopen.

“For decades, The Boathouse has been a social hub for our city, an important part of our local music scene and a beloved gathering place for residents and visitors,” Vrbanovic said.

“This incredible new and improved space, in the heart of Victoria Park, will make it an even better place for our entire community to come together and spend time together all year round.”

The grand opening celebration will take place at 11 a.m. on November 22.