Winnipeg developer secures old Barney’s Motel property
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/01/2024 (726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The owner of the former Barney’s Motel, Jenny Kang, sold the property last month to a Winnipeg developer after operating the business for more than a decade.
The prime commercial property is located at 105 Middleton Ave., at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 10 — one of Brandon’s most visible corners.
Century 21 Westman Realty partner Tim Melnyk said the property was listed at $750,000, but he did not disclose the selling price due to a non-disclosure agreement with the new owner.
Century 21 Westman Realty partner Tim Melnyk says the new owner will start a service business at the location to complement the businesses surrounding it. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
“The business coming there is service and will complement the businesses surrounding it along with the traffic on the No. 10 and the No. 1 highway,” Melnyk told the Sun. “It’s something that we don’t have in Brandon and they’re looking forward to coming to Brandon.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the sale, the specific plans for the property have been kept under wraps. “They don’t want to try to put it out there just yet,” Melnyk said. However, he did express optimism about the co-operation between the developer and the City of Brandon concerning planning and permissible uses for the site.
The sale, he said, marks the end of an era for Barney’s Motel, a longstanding establishment in Brandon for almost 60 years, acknowledging its role as a local staple.
“Barney’s has been in Brandon as long as I’ve been alive,” he said.
The motel was constructed in 1964 by Brandon entrepreneur Gabriel Charles (Barney) Mollot (1905-87), according to Manitoba Historical Society Archives. It underwent demolition in April 2023.
Melnyk said the property was listed for almost a year, adding it attracted a significant level of interest from various regions across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
“Many were hopeful for a revival of Barney’s Motel, but it wasn’t a feasible option due to financial constraints linked to its size,” he said. “The decision was made not to devalue the property further and instead sell the land as it stood. Initially, people couldn’t envision the potential of the property or what could be developed there due to the building’s presence.”
Melnyk expressed confidence that the right buyer had emerged, emphasizing the positive prospects of the property aligning seamlessly with neighbouring businesses, hotels and establishments along the service roads of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The former Barney's Motel site at 105 Middleton Ave. was sold last month to a Winnipeg developer. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
As Brandon anticipates the transformation of this iconic site, he said the sale of the Barney’s Motel property stands as a turning point, paving the way for a new chapter in the evolution of Brandon’s business landscape.
Kang did not respond to the Sun’s calls and messages.
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