The Wagon Wheel Lunch restaurant, which had been ordered to vacate its longtime home in the Norlyn Building in downtown Winnipeg by the end of March, has been given an extra three months until it has to leave.
The Norlyn is one of several buildings set for demolition as part of downtown Winnipeg's SHED (sports, hospitality and entertainment district) plans.
Franny Gomez, who runs the culinary institution, said she still doesn't know if she'll be able to find another location that will still be economical. Real estate values in downtown Winnipeg have been on a sharp rise since last May's announcement that the Winnipeg Jets were being reborn.
"If I can't afford it, it's not fun. I don't want to go overboard," she said.
Ross McGowan, president and CEO of CentreVenture Development Corp., the downtown agency spearheading the SHED, said his agency will do whatever it can - including giving Gomez a break on rent - if it will mean the Wagon Wheel will live on.
from Western Investor April 2012
