Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[teej1984]

Goodlife is currently being renovated so I'm quite doubtful it's moving anywhere. A part of the free weights section is currently boxed off (not too sure what could possibly be going on back there), they've just replaced the flooring and have signs that say work will be finished sometime in 2016.

[UrbOttawa]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Hopefully they fill the hole in The Bay with glass. It would make more sense and would add much needed sunlight in the building. I fear if they try to fill it with another stone, it won't be the same and will look like an ugly patch job (a-la bank building on Wellington).

Today theyre covering it up with a rectangle of tan aluminium panelling, hopefully its just a place holder for until the bay renovates the façade.

[kingedward]

Wow, I am really digging how open everything feels without the west bridge. Considerably less dingy.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bay took this as an opportunity to switch up their signage toward the "Hudson's Bay" restyling they've been rolling out at other stores.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by teej1984

Goodlife is currently being renovated so I'm quite doubtful it's moving anywhere. A part of the free weights section is currently boxed off (not too sure what could possibly be going on back there), they've just replaced the flooring and have signs that say work will be finished sometime in 2016.

It does not look like the Goodlife is going to move where the former cinemas once stood. I was always speculating that the Elephant will go up in the cinema space, because one can put a patio outside in the roof terrace in the summer. Did you hear anything about a spa going in the section of the cinemas? Do they have a swimming pool in Goodlife fitness?

loga0082

[movebyleap]

Originally Posted by loga0082

It does not look like the Goodlife is going to move where the former cinemas once stood. I was always speculating that the Elephant will go up in the cinema space, because one can put a patio outside in the roof terrace in the summer. Did you hear anything about a spa going in the section of the cinemas? Do they have a swimming pool in Goodlife fitness?

loga0082

I really don`t think Elephant and Castle will ever return to Ottawa. They closed down about 7 or 8 years ago and I highly doubt that they would consider coming back inside the cinema space, on the roof, or anywhere else in the Rideau Centre. But...it IS a chain. So if you need a fix of E&C, you can always head to Toronto, Winnipeg or Vancouver where they still have franchises!

[kingedward]

More photos sans west bridge from earlier this evening.

[Norman Bates]

How sweet it is.

Reminds me of the gorgeous view of the chateau that was afforded by the demolition of that Chicago building.

Maybe they could try something like this in Westboro. I get creeped out just driving through that part of Richmond / Wellington west.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by movebyleap

I really don`t think Elephant and Castle will ever return to Ottawa. They closed down about 7 or 8 years ago and I highly doubt that they would consider coming back inside the cinema space, on the roof, or anywhere else in the Rideau Centre. But...it IS a chain. So if you need a fix of E&C, you can always head to Toronto, Winnipeg or Vancouver where they still have franchises!

I do not think that the 'Elephant and Castle' Pub was closed down 7 or 8 years ago. I think that it was 2 years that it had been closed down. I remember that my father and his friends ate at the 'Elephant and Castle' pub at the Rideau centre about 3 years ago. I never ate at the pub before, so I do not know whether the food was good or not. I remember that pub was opened, when my mother was alive. She died over 5.5 years ago. I walk pass the Rideau Centre and that pub is completely demolished. I suspect maybe the entrance of the LRT will go there.

loga0082

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by kingedward

More photos sans west bridge from earlier this evening.

What lovely photos which you took! The Rideau Centre looks much better now without that ugly West pedestrian bridge. I can see Chateau Laurier much clearer without that eyesore of a bridge.

loga0082

[HighwayStar]

Well I kinda liked it and am sad to see it go... sort of added a futuristic hi-techy vibe to the street. Upgraded it would have been real sweet

Anyway... thanks for posting kingedward... I'll reserve my final judgement til next time I wander around there....

cheers

[movebyleap]

Originally Posted by loga0082

I do not think that the 'Elephant and Castle' Pub was closed down 7 or 8 years ago. I think that it was 2 years that it had been closed down. I remember that my father and his friends ate at the 'Elephant and Castle' pub at the Rideau centre about 3 years ago. I never ate at the pub before, so I do not know whether the food was good or not. I remember that pub was opened, when my mother was alive. She died over 5.5 years ago. I walk pass the Rideau Centre and that pub is completely demolished. I suspect maybe the entrance of the LRT will go there.

loga0082

Pretty sure E&C closed for business back in 2008 or 2009. Then it stood empty for a year or so. Then The Exchange opened in that spot - and it's The Exchange that shut down approximately 2 years ago. You father must have dined at The Exchange. The E&C was a meeting place for all my friends through all our high school, university, and later years. It was a huge shock when "our" place closed down.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by loga0082

I do not think that the 'Elephant and Castle' Pub was closed down 7 or 8 years ago....

loga0082

Tuesday, 8 August 2006

"ELEPHANT & CASTLE in OTTAWA IS NOW CLOSED!
After 26 years of being Ottawa’s favourite neighbourhood pub for dining, drinking, and gathering the beloved Elephant & Castle® is saying Goodbye! We want to sincerely thank our many guests over the years for your continued support and patronage. We have all made fond memories within these old walls, and it is with a eavy heart that we close the doors.
The staff and management wish you all a warm and wonderful summer.See you soon!
We have a great new concept opening in the Fall. Hope to see then!" Elephant & Castle Website.

http://lordofthewings.blogspot.ca/2006/08/ottawa-back-elephant-castle.html

[movebyleap]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Tuesday, 8 August 2006

"ELEPHANT & CASTLE in OTTAWA IS NOW CLOSED!


http://lordofthewings.blogspot.ca/2006/08/ottawa-back-elephant-castle.html

Woah! Was it THAT long ago? Even more than I thought! Time flies!

[loga0082]

Sorry, rocketphish and movebyleap! You two were absolutely right that Elephant & Castle did close down 7 or 8 years ago. I cannot believe either that it was that long ago. To me, time flies very fast! It always seems like yesterday. I walked in the Rideau centre today and the last name was 'Exchange'. I told my father that the name was 'Exchange'. He said that he was sorry. He just made a mistake. When my mother was alive, my mother and I would always shop at the Rideau Centre while we were grocery shopping. My mother always wanted to go to the Rideau centre just to buy clothes every week. I did not even notice then that 'Elephant & Castle' closed down in 2006. My mother and I never ate there. We would always eat in the market. We would eat at 'LaPointe', and at different Mexican restaurants like 'Las Palmas', 'Mexicali Rosa's', and the one in William Street, but all three of them are closed now. My mother would not eat at 'El Meson', because she had difficulty going up and down the stairs dued to her cancer. Sorry guys!

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

I didn't find the design an eyesore at all. It was a nice design and had it been maintained, would've looked even cooler. It fit the "rustic" look of the street, but 2 bridges were a little cluttering. The views without it are really cool, but the bridge great. With all the new around, it was cool to still have that "old" around. The new design on the remaining bridge is shaping up nicely and should look cool when completed for a September opening. Its almost done...

Originally Posted by loga0082

What lovely photos which you took! The Rideau Centre looks much better now without that ugly West pedestrian bridge. I can see Chateau Laurier much clearer without that eyesore of a bridge.

loga0082

[1overcosc]

Except that old bridge was 1960s-1970s brutalist style--aka, the worst kind of 'old'.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Except that old bridge was 1960s-1970s brutalist style--aka, the worst kind of 'old'.

I thought that the bridge would be built at the same time as the Rideau centre in the early 1980's. The Rideau Centre opened on March 17th 1983. I assumed that the West Pedestrian bridge which was demolished last week was built approximately around that time. You are right that it was not the best looking bridge in the world.

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

The 2 bridges were indeed built at the same time for the Rideau Centre project. It's impossible anyways for them to have been there before... Remember, the complete South Side of Rideau Street was demo'ed for the RC at the exception of Rideau/Colonel By corner & Rideau/Nicholas; i.e. Ogilvys (& surrounding strip owned by them). Everything in the middle was trashed (dumb move) for the RC project.

To each their own... I thought it was a cool design. Box"y" but nice & practical. The interior needed a nice refit and update & the glass needed replacing, but the metal panels were cool. It could've fit in the new design, but I guess they just figured it was easier to streamline everything. Now the new bridge is almost done & it goes straight into the "Freiman Mall" which is horrendous looking. This was their chance to modernize THAT, but HBC failed and left it as it sat.... Too bad. Even a coat of paint would make it a little more appealing. Also taking away the alcoves on the exterior 1st floor so they aren't used as toilets anymore would be a welcome change... The list is endless at how to make that strip of Rideau more appealing

Originally Posted by loga0082

I thought that the bridge would be built at the same time as the Rideau centre in the early 1980's. The Rideau Centre opened on March 17th 1983. I assumed that the West Pedestrian bridge which was demolished last week was built approximately around that time. You are right that it was not the best looking bridge in the world.

loga0082

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by loga0082

I thought that the bridge would be built at the same time as the Rideau centre in the early 1980's. The Rideau Centre opened on March 17th 1983. I assumed that the West Pedestrian bridge which was demolished last week was built approximately around that time. You are right that it was not the best looking bridge in the world.

loga0082

It was built in the 1980s, but the architectural style of the bridge is closer to what was typically being built in the 1960s.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

The 2 bridges were indeed built at the same time for the Rideau Centre project. It's impossible anyways for them to have been there before... Remember, the complete South Side of Rideau Street was demo'ed for the RC at the exception of Rideau/Colonel By corner & Rideau/Nicholas; i.e. Ogilvys (& surrounding strip owned by them). Everything in the middle was trashed (dumb move) for the RC project.

To each their own... I thought it was a cool design. Box"y" but nice & practical. The interior needed a nice refit and update & the glass needed replacing, but the metal panels were cool. It could've fit in the new design, but I guess they just figured it was easier to streamline everything. Now the new bridge is almost done & it goes straight into the "Freiman Mall" which is horrendous looking. This was their chance to modernize THAT, but HBC failed and left it as it sat.... Too bad. Even a coat of paint would make it a little more appealing. Also taking away the alcoves on the exterior 1st floor so they aren't used as toilets anymore would be a welcome change... The list is endless at how to make that strip of Rideau more appealing

I am not sure whether you remember the YouTube video on the Rideau Centre expansion dated September 2013. When I watched that video which was made almost two years ago, it did have both the East and West pedestrian bridge nicely renovated with the beautiful shiny glass. Why did they decide to change their mind and get rid of the West pedestrian bridge? I remember that they had benches where people could sit to have lunch. When is that East pedestrian bridge going to be finished?

loga0082