Prairie Firehouse closure bad news for the Wheat City

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/05/2020 (2339 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“My heart hurts just reading this. The experience that you have created within those walls has been inspiring and has been a tourism destination for this city! Best wishes on your next venture — it will no doubt be another showcase for your talent, passion and creativity!”

— Karen Chrest, in a comment on the Prairie Firehouse Facebook page

“Anna and team, thank you for bringing to Brandon a revitalization when it came to “rebranding” our city and downtown entertainment with the unique and exotic food, drinks, ambiance, and customer atmosphere. Your hospitality will be missed and Prairie Firehouse deserves to be part of the history book for the city. Thank you for taking a lead and bringing something new to us.”

— Naseer Malik, also a comment on the restaurant’s Facebook page

In an unfortunate bit of news yesterday, Brandonites learned that the Prairie Firehouse Restaurant has closed “effective immediately,” as noted by business owner Anna Dumas in a Facebook post late yesterday morning.

“I am saddened to announce that we will be closing our doors permanently effective immediately,” Dumas wrote. “Our lease is expiring and unfortunately during these unprecedented times, we were unable to reach an agreement for new terms on our historic building.”

This is, of course, an unfortunate blow — not only for Dumas, her staff and the numerous customers who patronized the Princess Avenue business, but also for the city’s efforts to recreate and improve our downtown neighbourhood.

In 2010, the city’s Fire and Emergency Services unit moved into new headquarters near the base of the Daly overpass, and left the historic Fire Hall No. 1, which then stood empty for nearly five years while council debated what to do with the property.

Eventually, Brandon engineer Phil Dorn took over the property and started the property for future development. We learned in 2015 that Ms. Dumas would be moving into the space to transform the former firehall into a downtown pub and eatery.

It was widely hailed as a great development and a good use of the aging structure, which has stood at the site since 1911. It was also hoped that such a business would help move forward the city’s efforts to reclaim downtown. Since there are no “big” developments in the works — for the near future at any rate — having a number of smaller stores, restaurants and other businesses move into the downtown has been the goal for this council and the city’s downtown development corporation for several years.

So when one goes down, especially one located in a prime location with a patio and historic character, it becomes a rather big deal.

By late yesterday afternoon there were already 360 comments on the post from many supporters who wished Dumas well and mourned the loss of the short-lived but vibrant Brandon institution.

Although she did not say so explicitly, we can’t help but wonder if by mentioning “these unprecedented times” in her post, Ms. Dumas was alluding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has closed businesses, kept our population isolated, and caused untold economic damage to our business community for the last two months.

It was always a distinct possibility that some business owners who were forced to shutter due to the pandemic would not be opening the doors again, falling victim to the financial carnage this virus has wrought worldwide. And this closure brings that reality home with a gut punch.

We are not privy to the whole financial picture facing Prairie Firehouse — building owner Phil Dorn told the Sun yesterday that he would be willing to extend the lease — but we have to believe that being forced to close its doors back in March did not improve the business’s financial health.

We remain hopeful that most businesses in Brandon will be able to reopen their doors in the coming weeks, if they haven’t already. Manitobans need jobs to resume and our staggering economy must get back on firmer footing.

And if Mr. Dorn is right, and there are other suitors in the works for the historic firehouse, it may not be long before we’re back sipping suds back on the firehouse patio under new ownership.

But this pandemic is not over yet, even if our COVID-19 numbers are way, way down compared to other provinces. And the economic fallout in its wake continues.

Just how bad it gets is anybody’s guess.

You can help by shopping local. Support those businesses operating and soon to be opening.