Desperate for renovations
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 23/01) - The Wildcat Cafe will open this year but most likely under new management as part of a proposed new-fangled lease between the city of Yellowknife and the association that keeps the cafe running.
During council's by-monthly public services committee meeting on Tuesday, Old Stope Association representatives asked the city to sub-lease the restaurant as part of a three-part operating proposal with the association responsible for the sub-lease.
"What we want to see is that the Wildcat Cafe continues to operate, exist and thrive," said Mary McCreadie, board member of the association.
The request sparked debate among present committee members.
Coun. Alan Woytuik argued there was no need for the association to play "middleman" in the lease.
"Why wouldn't we lease directly to another party?" said Woytuik.
Coun. Ben McDonald said the association's 20-year experience dealing with the cafe amounted to substantial "heritage value."
The association also wants the city to foot the bill for repairs. The association believes because the restaurant is a heritage site it falls within the city's responsibility.
"We want the city to try to contribute more to maintenance," said Stephen Fancott, president of the association.
"The cafe is facing major repairs," said Fancott.
Some of the repairs include new roofing at an approximate cost of $8,000, general interior maintenance at an approximate cost of $5,000, and flooring at an approximate cost of $8,000.
Woytuik, wielding a free market argument, said it was unfair to other restaurant operators that the city subsidize the Wildcat Cafe with taxpayers' money by fixing it.
Lorna Dosso, secretary for the association's board, said the cafe is not a "normal" restaurant.
"The cafe is seasonal in nature," said Dosso.
"We only have a couple of months to make money and in that way it's different from other restaurants," said Dosso.
The issue will go before council next week with the recommendation the city keep the Wildcat Cafe going.
The Wildcat Cafe was built in 1937 and is one of the earliest permanent buildings in Yellowknife.
Closed for a decade the Old Stope Association restored and opened the restaurant in 1978.
A replica of the cafe was built in Ottawa's Museum of Civilization.
