Markham
November 20, 2008 08:44 PM
Simone Joseph
If the re-opening of the Unionville Arms Pub is on your Christmas wish list, you may be in luck.
While the pub won’t be open tomorrow, there is a chance it will be open to patrons by the time Jolly Saint Nic arrives, according to pub manager Sue Lamarre.
When asked how soon contractors would finish re-building the pub, Ms Lamarre was optimistic.
“Hopefully, before Santa comes,” the manager quipped.
Co-owner Tom Vasilovsky was more specific about the impending re-opening.
“We are hoping for the first week of December,” he said.
The historic pub used to be home to York Region’s first movie theatre. The building dates back to 1870. It was a blacksmith shop, then an auto repair garage, a playhouse and a restaurant. In 1913, G.A.M. Davidson ran Ontario’s first Ford Model T dealership there.
The pub was damaged in a fire on Nov. 30 of last year. Markham Fire and Emergency Services ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined. Co-owners Tom and Paul Vasilovsky have faced criticism for demolishing the remaining structure.
The pub’s owners had worked with town heritage staff to develop plans to repair the building.
The Vasilovskys say insurance company engineers deemed remaining walls unsafe and they received approval to demolish the structure. But a town spokesperson contended the demolition went far beyond what was allowed in the building permit.
The town took action and the pub’s owners faced charges under the Ontario Heritage Act after the Main Street building was leveled, save for the facade and a few original beams.
Several court appearances later, the Vasilovskys have been fined $3,000 plus tax. Mr. Vasilovsky maintains the charges were unjust, claiming they had little choice but to demolish the remains.
“It was unsafe. It was ridiculous...with a busy restaurant, you cannot do a Band-Aid solution.”
He pointed out that Unionville Arms has done a lot for the town, including catering a golf tournament for free.
“We weren’t happy with it (the fine) but the show must go on.”
The fire caused $500,000 in damage. In the end, including the rebuilding, this setback is going to cost the owners more than $1 million, Mr. Vasilovsky said.
So what can customers expect when the pub does re-open?
Washrooms are still downstairs but relocated to a different spot and will be larger. It has a beautiful ladies’ washroom, Mr. Vasilovsky said. Expect a bigger patio, the same basic layout and menu but with some features added.
Ms Lamarre sounded confident patrons will embrace the changes.
“It will all be well appreciated,” she said, adding staff are looking forward to the re-opening.
“We are looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces.”
The impending opening is like ‘a re-birth’, Mr. Vasilovsky said.
“It is very exciting. You can almost taste it. It has been a long process.”
— with files from Chris Traber and Joe Fantauzzi