Canadian Motor Hotel under new ownership, new name

For decades, The Canadian Motor Hotel, located on Pim Street, had been a landmark destination for accommodation, dining, beverages, parties, banquets and live entertainment.

New owner Jim Brogno purchased the business in April from family members who had owned and operated The Canadian for over 30 years (the Marrelli family), renaming it The Canuck and now carrying out big plans to renovate and expand.

Brogno hopes to have his new ‘The Canuck’ sign on the property by mid-June.

“There are 40 hotel rooms here, so I’m doing a renovation on the 40 rooms and I’m adding another 32 rooms to a second storey,” Brogno said, speaking to SooToday.

“We are just slowly making improvements. We’re going to freshen up the bar at some point, looking at possibly extending the front deck (perhaps doubling it in size). People have been coming here for years and they still keep coming.”

Brogno is no stranger to property management and restoration, being part owner of Realty Executives Castle Alliance/Fleming and Smith.

As far as the upstairs bar and restaurant is concerned, Brogno said “we’re bringing in Molson products. We’re going to have seven or eight different types of draft beer to increase the number of options. We’re going to increase the number of coolers, 25 or 30 different types of coolers and specialty (locally brewed) beers. We’re going to try to reach as many people as we can...I haven’t decided on a name yet (for the bar and restaurant, long-known as The Upper Deck).”

A new chef has been hired and pizza ovens purchased, Brogno intending to set up a pizza outlet (mostly takeout, with some space for indoor dining) in the southwest corner of the building.

As for the former downstairs nightclub space, Brogno is looking for a whole new type of tenant.

“I’m thinking a gym club would actually be a great fit.”

“We’re hoping to open up pretty soon and then we can make decisions as we go...I’m shooting for mid-June (depending on how quickly the Sault and the rest of the province emerges from the government’s stay-at-home order),” Brogno said, stating his focus is currently on renovating the hotel’s rooms.      

“We’re painting, putting in new flooring, we’re just tweaking it and making it nice...we’ll have about 12 rooms done within the next few weeks to a month.”

Brogno said he anticipates most of the former staff members from The Canadian will be back once the stay-at-home order is fully lifted after Steps 1, 2 and 3.