Winnipeg | Exchange District | Developments & Discussions

[buzzg]

That's exactly it. Latest polls show over half of kids graduating high school have never drank. That's a huge drop compared to older generations. Kids would rather remember their night, have a great meal, and "do it for the 'gram" aka: they want to post pretty things on Instagram. It's not just a downtown thing, a LOT of other nightclubs/party bars that were INSTITUTIONS for a long time have closed. The CanadInns club on Pembina, through its many incarnations, was always one of the busiest in the city – likely what kept that hotel profitable – and they just sold the building.

[pacman]

Originally Posted by buzzg

That's exactly it. Latest polls show over half of kids graduating high school have never drank. That's a huge drop compared to older generations. Kids would rather remember their night, have a great meal, and "do it for the 'gram" aka: they want to post pretty things on Instagram. It's not just a downtown thing, a LOT of other nightclubs/party bars that were INSTITUTIONS for a long time have closed. The CanadInns club on Pembina, through its many incarnations, was always one of the busiest in the city – likely what kept that hotel profitable – and they just sold the building.

So you're trying to tell me that these kids that want a great meal and posting on instagram are already home or hanging out on someone's couch at 11:30 on a Friday? Corydon is the poster neighbourhood for this type of life yet during the summer it doesn't shut down at 11:00. Where was everyone?

[esquire]

^ For what it's worth I like the low-key scene better than what we had back in my day. It seems more mature, dare I say more European than the "OMG I turned 18 let's go to CanadInns and get WASTED" kind of mindset more prevalent back in the 90s.

I guess that translates to quieter streets in the Exchange. FWIW hardly anyone lived in the East Exchange back in the 90s... there was Ashdown and not much else. These days it's becoming a full-on residential area, so it's less of a playpen for suburban weekend warriors getting their drank on. Which is fine with me IMO, I'd rather have one Forth around there than five Wiseguys.

[pacman]

Sorry to double post... I have a 19 year old daughter so I know exactly what you guys mean with the shift to a different style of "partying" compared to the 90's. I obviously dated myself with 90s references in my other post, but I can also see the world as it is a bit through my daughter's eyes. Kids might not party, but they still go out, and they weren't in the Exchange this past Friday, that's all I'm saying. Recognizing this shift in habits, the Exchange as it is does not currently have any nightlife. People here are painting this positive picture of the area, and my eyes witnessed an area that got left behind. Maybe my eyes are wrong and I need new glasses.

[pacman]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ For what it's worth I like the low-key scene better than what we had back in my day. It seems more mature, dare I say more European than the "OMG I turned 18 let's go to CanadInns and get WASTED" kind of mindset more prevalent back in the 90s.

I guess that translates to quieter streets in the Exchange. FWIW hardly anyone lived in the East Exchange back in the 90s... there was Ashdown and not much else. These days it's becoming a full-on residential area, so it's less of a playpen for suburban weekend warriors getting their drank on. Which is fine with me IMO, I'd rather have one Forth around there than five Wiseguys.

Fair comment, I agree with you about prefering the low-key scene. I'm not overly worldly but I've been to some European cities with the exact vibe you're talking about, I would love that here and the Exchange is the perfect place for it. Maybe I was naive thinking the Exchange had morphed into that type of scene. Again, no problem with that vibe, just saying that vibe should attract people, not necessarily partying rowdiness in the streets, but people. There was nothing there that night, and for the Exchange to fully get that vibrancy, there needs to be people visibly in the area instead of holed up in their apartment on a couch sipping their red wine watching cat videos on youtube (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Wolf13]

Pacman is right to an extent though... it should be busier. Not that everyone should be crunked out over a park bench but a good mix of noise and entertainment with some level of community is needed.

The internet has reduced a lot of young peoples' lives into exercises in their own vanity rather than activity around them.

[buzzg]

There's still a pretty low amount of residents in an near The Exchange, so to really see a lot of people "on the street" at night, we'll need more residents... it's happening slowly. The thing with the "low-key" scene is that you never really see lines spilling onto the street, there's less smokers, etc. People may go for dinner than walk home or to their cars. I'm not saying this accounts for all of the quietness, just a contributor.

[1ajs]

the exchange has come a long ways in the last 10-15 yrs even in the last 5

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by buzzg

There's still a pretty low amount of residents in an near The Exchange, so to really see a lot of people "on the street" at night, we'll need more residents... it's happening slowly. The thing with the "low-key" scene is that you never really see lines spilling onto the street, there's less smokers, etc. People may go for dinner than walk home or to their cars. I'm not saying this accounts for all of the quietness, just a contributor.

Well, you're absolutely right though. The Exchange is blossoming, I think. I wish it were a bit more visible but considering how great it is to hang out there (still), I'm not complaining. However, an even like Nuit Blanche highlighted it's strength much better.

[buzzg]

Yeah, I think we're probably in the middle of its biggest transition downturn in terms of nighttime activity.

Why? Because before it was getting gentrified, so to speak, there were so many underground raves, illegal parties at studios, nightclubs, and other things of the sort that attracted young people, and not as many more "normal" established businesses and (affluent) residents.

While it's sad to see a lot of that disappear, great (legal) businesses are popping up all over the place and people are moving in, pushing that scene out. A couple years and we'll see nightlife pick up again that better suits the new demographic there.

[Tacheguy]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yeah, I think we're probably in the middle of its biggest transition downturn in terms of nighttime activity.

Why? Because before it was getting gentrified, so to speak, there were so many underground raves, illegal parties at studios, nightclubs, and other things of the sort that attracted young people, and not as many more "normal" established businesses and (affluent) residents.

While it's sad to see a lot of that disappear, great (legal) businesses are popping up all over the place and people are moving in, pushing that scene out. A couple years and we'll see nightlife pick up again that better suits the new demographic there.

I wonder where the "old scene" will move to. West end or point Douglas maybe? It will move somewhere.

[oftheMoon]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yeah, I think we're probably in the middle of its biggest transition downturn in terms of nighttime activity.

Why? Because before it was getting gentrified, so to speak, there were so many underground raves, illegal parties at studios, nightclubs, and other things of the sort that attracted young people, and not as many more "normal" established businesses and (affluent) residents.

While it's sad to see a lot of that disappear, great (legal) businesses are popping up all over the place and people are moving in, pushing that scene out. A couple years and we'll see nightlife pick up again that better suits the new demographic there.

Great to see a place like 'Across the Board' packed every night with a chill crowd and so visible to the street. It's not a night club scene but probably way better for the area. Same with places like 'Albert Street Cocktails' , 'Forth', 'Little Brown Jug' and 'PEG' - busy places but a much different vibe than in the old days. Notwithstanding the busy restaurants that are doing well like 'Cibos', 'Cordova', 'Hermanos' etc. Always folks around in these places, but just a little less wandering as what used to happen. The area is very much alive, just in a different way.

[tree]

pacman is totally right and so are some of the explanations about it. The Exchange is improving a lot and I wish pacman had got to see it during the summer some nights as you can see the energy picking up more consistently. (By that I mean, its not just on Nuit Blanche or Jazzfest- it was regularly just busier) Sounds partially like just a bad night for it combined with what a 'night out' generally looks like now.

I have no doubt in a few years that energy from the summer will definitely stay around. When I first moved downtown in 2015 even it wasn't as consistent as it is now. It needs more people still and eventually despite the changes in what a night out entails it will eventually have life on the streets again - just not enough people quite yet to always have that kind of energy all the time. At a certain point, even if every nightspot is like Across the Board, there will be enough people coming and going that it will have street life.

I do think it was a bit of bad luck on pacman's part - its usually not as bad as you describe it but is still like that more often then one would think based on the changes happening. It will eventually spill more onto the streets regularly.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

I wonder where the "old scene" will move to. West end or point Douglas maybe? It will move somewhere.

I know of some after hours spots in industrial part of West Alexander and Point Douglas.

Originally Posted by oftheMoon

Great to see a place like 'Across the Board' packed every night with a chill crowd and so visible to the street. It's not a night club scene but probably way better for the area. Same with places like 'Albert Street Cocktails' , 'Forth', 'Little Brown Jug' and 'PEG' - busy places but a much different vibe than in the old days. Notwithstanding the busy restaurants that are doing well like 'Cibos', 'Cordova', 'Hermanos' etc. Always folks around in these places, but just a little less wandering as what used to happen. The area is very much alive, just in a different way.

Yup. Just wish ATB would use the Main Street entrance, at least in summer.

Originally Posted by tree

pacman is totally right and so are some of the explanations about it. The Exchange is improving a lot and I wish pacman had got to see it during the summer some nights as you can see the energy picking up more consistently. (By that I mean, its not just on Nuit Blanche or Jazzfest- it was regularly just busier) Sounds partially like just a bad night for it combined with what a 'night out' generally looks like now.

In talking with some of the business owners in the Exchange, both new and old, they all agreed it's unbelievable how busy the area is on any given day when it's nice out. They all said this summer was by far the busiest, while all agreeing that the Summer Games had zero impact on sales – it was just bustling all the time.

[buzzg]

Winnipeg's 104-year-old Royal Albert Arms heading for mortgage auction in November

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/royal-albert-arms-sale-1.4373319

It would be horrific if Zaifman bid on this and won. Article says he's "still working" on a plan to redevelop St. Charles, 9 years later. Would love Sparrow Hotels (Mere/Norwood/Inn at The Forks) to take it over.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

Fixed

Originally Posted by buzzg

It would be horrific if Zaifman bid on this and won. Article says he's "still working" on a plan to redevelop St. Charles, 9 fucking years later. Would love Sparrow Hotels (Mere/Norwood/Inn at The Forks) to take it over.

Add to that it is currently a bed bug, cockroach infested hellhole. Whoever, if anyone, dives in, they better have some money. This would be a big project. The bugs get in the walls in these old places. Big deal getting them out of there. You have to take the place down to the studs to get rid of them.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by OTA in Winnipeg

Fixed


Add to that it is currently a bed bug, cockroach infested hellhole. Whoever, if anyone, dives in, they better have some money. This would be a big project. The bugs get in the walls in these old places. Big deal getting them out of there. You have to take the place down to the studs to get rid of them.

studs aww its brick walls in there the floors are brick on side as well between the joists

[horrorbro123]

Rocky Mountain Soap at Polo Park is Temporary Closed For Renovations

[Roger Strong]

Originally Posted by OTA in Winnipeg

Add to that it is currently a bed bug, cockroach infested hellhole. Whoever, if anyone, dives in, they better have some money. This would be a big project. The bugs get in the walls in these old places. Big deal getting them out of there. You have to take the place down to the studs to get rid of them.

Or, drain the water out of the pipes (which they'll probably tear out anyway) and let the building sit unheated for a month in the middle of winter.

[bomberjet]

Such a shame what albert st. has become. Soooooo muuuuch potential in there.