Celebrating a downtown institution

A bar at Queen Street and March Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie was still packed inside, but for one night the real party was outside

Reggie’s Place is celebrating being in business 25 years, and a street party which included a car show, beer tent, live music stage and drum circle was held Friday night immediately outside the bar.

Many seemed to come out just to congratulate the bar’s owner, Reggie Daigle.

“I feel important,” said Daigle, better known to most as just “Reggie.”

“It’s been a good 25 years.”

Queen Street was closed between Spring and Dennis streets for the celebration.

“Reggie’s is a bit of an institution in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. Reggie has operated the business for a while now and it is worth recognizing,” said Mayor Christian Provenzano, who partook in a few celebratory brews for the occasion. 

Provenzano added, “I love seeing people on Queen Street and I love seeing people socializing. It’s a happy event."

Reggie agrees, “This is what Queen Street should do most weekends. We have a lot of stuff here.”

In the 25 years since he started the bar, Reggie said he has noticed a push from downtown to the north end of the city.

He thinks closing down Queen Street more often, maybe every Friday night, would help keep the young people in town.

“We’re shipping our kids out We shouldn’t be doing that. There should be all kinds of things for them to do here,” he said.

Reggie said it seems like Sault Ste. Marie is becoming like a retirement town because so many young people are leaving.

“When I started nobody would move to Sudbury to live. Sudbury is the most booming town right now, he said.

One thing that hasn't changed is Reggie's look, Black jeans and t-shirt, leather vest and gold chains.

“I’ve always had this style. These chains," he said, laughing.

For Provenzano, this was an opportunity to celebrate not just a long-standing downtown business, but also recognize how Reggie has helped so many people over the years.

“A lot of business owners contribute more than just to our economy. They give the community a place to gather, they run events to fundraise for charities and Reggie’s is no exception to that,” Provenzano said.

It was important for Donna Talarico to attend the crowded celebration in place of her sister, who is in Toronto for surgery.

“She wanted to be here so badly but couldn’t. I’m getting a scrapbook together for her. Reggie’s going to give me a t-shirt for her and we’re going to take lost of pictures,” Talarico said.

When she gets better we’re going to come here and have Judy’s famous french fries and gravy,” she said.

For Reggie, it is simple — treat others like you would like to be treated.

“If somebody hurts themselves bad or gets sick they need money just like the rest of us,” he said.