Windsor City Council has approved a $100,000 grant to The Windsor Club to assist with interior renovations at the Wiser’s Reception Centre.
The Windsor Club, which bills itself the only private member club in Windsor, is relocating from the 14th floor of the CIBC building at 100 Ouellette Avenue, to the vacant building on Pernod Ricard riverfront property at 2072 Riverside Drive East, formerly Hiram Walker and Sons.
The Windsor Club has occupied the CIBC 14th floor since 1987. Former Mayor Eddie Francis, a club member, arranged the move in August of 2014 prior to his retirement, after City Council refused an application to demolish the heritage designated property. The club, with Federica Nazzani holding the presidency, has committed to $550,000 for the first stage of renovations of the Centre, which is basically a shell.
The minutes of the city’s Heritage, Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee (now there’s a mouthful) that recommended the grant says Francis worked with the property owner and potential occupants, which resulted in a proposal for a long-term lease with the Windsor Club, supported by city funds for renovations.
The club’s legal representative subsequently worked out a long-term lease with Jim Stanski, VP Operations for Pernon Ricard. Mikhail Holdings Inc., the current landlord, hopes to operate a high-end restaurant on the 14th floor once the tenant departs at the end of November. “The intent is to re-open the restaurant along with an outdoor patio, provided we find an operator/Chef to run the facility on our behalf,” says co-owner Joe Mikhail.
“With the right individual, we will redo the entire restaurant and make it more available to the public. We will also be opening space for private functions such as office parties, weddings, showers, graduations, etc. We have the best view in the city, if not in Southwestern Ontario.” If he doesn’t find “the best of the best” to operate the facility it will be turned back into office space. Mikhail says a number of good candidates are being interviewed and he hopes to make a decision within 30 days.
