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Willy can chill until spring

Chilly Willy’s Sports Bar & Grill will remain at its present location in the John Rhodes Community Centre for a few more months.

Chilly Willy’s Sports Bar & Grill will remain at its present location in the John Rhodes Community Centre for a few more months.

City council has approved a motion to give Jody Wilson, Chilly Willy’s owner/operator, an extension of the three-year lease for his business (which expires September 30) until the end of the “ice-in” season on May 1, 2015.

After that time, however, requests for proposals (RFPs) from restaurant operators interested in moving into that space will be accepted by the city.

The matter was decided 8-3 in a recorded vote.

City CAO Joe Fratesi told councillors the city would like to see a longer term lease and a more reliable revenue stream coming from whoever operates a restaurant at the Rhodes Centre. 

Fratesi also told council Wilson would be welcome to submit a proposal for another lease, and said “no one on staff has a preconceived notion of who should be there.”

Because it is located in a municipal building, Chilly Willy’s, along with council and the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, had been caught up in what became a political controversy.

A majority of council members decided, at a caucus session August 11, to support the library board's plan to relocate its Churchill Plaza branch into the space once Wilson’s lease expired.

The decision at the time was based on declining revenues paid to the city by Chilly Willy’s (a 33 percent decline in sales for each year of the three-year lease, according to a city staff report), and because Wilson had requested a rent reduction.

Rent for Chilly Willy’s was $400 a month paid to the city and a five percent share of sales, in addition to municipal property taxes.

It was also decided at the August 11 caucus meeting the city could save $95,000 a year in rent paid to the Churchill Plaza by not renewing the Chilly Willy’s lease and moving the east end library branch into that space.

That decision sparked a wave of protest from Chilly Willy’s patrons, and the library board officially withdrew its proposal at council’s September 8 meeting.

Wilson had also informed the city he would agree to the terms of the existing lease.

Regardless, Community Services Department Commissioner Nick Apostle, in a report to council, recommended the city receive expressions of interest from “established restaurant owners” to operate in the John Rhodes Centre space.

$100,000 in renovations is needed to the restaurant area’s kitchen equipment, décor, and seating area.

Apostle told council Monday the kitchen equipment and seating area is 15 years old and “tired” by restaurant industry standards.

Voting in favour of Monday’s motion were councillors Steve Butland, Paul Christian, Susan Myers, Brian Watkins, Lou Turco, Marchy Bruni, Frank Fata and Joe Krmpotich.

Mayor Debbie Amaroso, along with councillors Terry Sheehan and Pat Mick, voted against.

Councillor Rick Niro abstained because of a pecuniary interest.

Councillor Frank Manzo was absent.

 

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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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