Inuvik (Dec 17/04) - The 32-room Mackenzie Hotel will fall to the wrecking ball in January to make way for a "bigger and better one," according to Marty Verbonac, vice-president of operations for the Mackenzie Delta Hotel Group.

Built in 1960, the Inuvik landmark, which includes a lounge, two restaurants and a disco, will soon be nothing but a memory.

The hotel group has so far been pretty tight-lipped about what the new hotel will look like.

Verbonac would only say the replacement will be larger, but will not include a nightclub.

"What I can tell you is that we are going to have a really good party on New Year's Eve," he said of the last day of operations for the Zoo, the hotel's popular nightclub.

The next day the hotel will host an invitation-only auction, featuring selected memorabilia from the hotel, the Brass Rail lounge and the Zoo. This will be followed on Jan. 2 by a cash-and-carry sale of all furniture and related items the hotel wants to liquidate before demolition.

Verbonac also noted that the last day to get a coffee at the Sunriser Cafe or a meal at the popular Green Briar Dining Room is Dec. 24.

As for staff, Verbonac says most have been offered jobs at other locations in the hotel group, including the Eskimo Inn and Finto Motor Inn.

Location manager Muriel Klengenberg, who has worked at the hotel "on and off" since 1985, says she will be sorry to see the old Mackenzie go.

"We've always strived to make it a welcome place and I'm going to miss the atmosphere," she said. "There are just so many memories, I wouldn't know where to begin."

It's not only staff members who are going to miss the Mackenzie.

Over at the Sunriser Cafe, two self-described regulars chatted about the week's events and lamented that the days are numbered days for their favourite coffee shop.

"It's gossip central, a gathering hole for people in town," said Tony Jensen, who has been coming to the Sunriser for "more than 20 years," along with his friend Don Campbell.

"I remember getting haircuts in a barber shop over there," Campbell said, pointing to the reception area.

And what will Campbell miss most about the hotel?

"Besides running into friends, steak sandwiches on Fridays."