Astoria Inn (Joes Place) Sold To BCBC ?

Friday, November 21, 2008 03:59 AM

Big changes in the workd for Joes Place on second Avenue?

Prince George, B.C. - Insiders say the rumours that the Astoria Inn, (Joes Place) has been sold to the Building Corporation of BC are a 9 out of 10.

Some months ago the Beer and Wine store on the premises was sold and that license was transferred to Vance Rd.

The premises then shut down and the liquor license for the pub sits.

Whether the hotel and facility would be used to replace the low income housing once available at the Columbus Hotel that burned down some months ago, or whether this would become a new facility is not known. The pink papers in the windows of the building indicate the place has been closed for renovation and will reopen in January 2009.

Opinion250 has been told that originally the Ranch Motel, 1656 on Victoria across from the Victoria Medical Building, was favoured by BCBC but the property was not zoned properly and fearing a repetition of what took place at the old Backpacker Motel on Queensway the BLDG Corporation headed off in another direction.

The hotel which boasted one of the few strip clubs in the city has shut down that section of the facility.

Both the former owners of the facility and BCBC have not responded to phone calls.

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Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chester on November 21 2008 7:58 AM

One more dive bites the dust. Does anyone have a say whether more low cost housing downtown is the best place for it? Or, does the province just do whatever they want? Somebody must be in the know.

Posted by: active on November 21 2008 8:49 AM

i think it is a good move to get this place out of the downtown core.

Posted by: opine on November 21 2008 9:07 AM

Ah... the memories.

The old stomping grounds are all but gone.

The Canada, The Mac, The Silver Kitten, the Princess Theatre, Columbus....

Too bad they aren't being replaced by establishments that would add a much needed upscale nightlife in our fair city.

Dancing in PG? Where?

Posted by: Palopu on November 21 2008 9:24 AM

Opine. Your foregetting the Europe, the Croft, the Inn of the North and the Yellowhead. The Strand Theatre, The Shasta Cafe, and a couple of :Pool Rooms.

Posted by: Junco on November 21 2008 9:57 AM

The Gold Cap, the Barn, the Simon bar, the Simon Cabaret, the Simon bar, the Ironhorse, the Happy Face Restaurant....

Posted by: Junco on November 21 2008 9:58 AM

the ditto on the Simon bar should be the Simon Lounge

Posted by: DPJ on November 21 2008 10:53 AM

Closing the strip club and liquor store will help clean up that part of the city.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 21 2008 12:56 PM

How about the Purple Lantern?

Posted by: metalman on November 21 2008 1:23 PM

Andy, cmon!
It was called the Purple Latrine!
Hey youse guys, don't forget about the old original Astoria Hotel on George St. (now I am really dating myself!) I had some of my first illegal draft beers in that palace, fond memories, got kicked out of the other bars, but they would let me have a beer before I got the boot!
Anyone know why the biker gangs did not buy Joe's place/Astoria? On a related note, I hear that a strip club will soon be open at the (former) National Hotel, any truth to the rumour???
metalman.

Posted by: opine on November 21 2008 3:52 PM

You guys are making me misty!

Palopu - I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the Europe but I certainly remember the experience!

Let's take you way back - Shakeys, the original Boston Pizza and the drive in theatre on Vance Road.

Whoa!

Posted by: dubber on November 21 2008 4:35 PM

yes... theres a facebook group for the new strip club.... check it OUT... allthough, as for the local talent... I'd pass LOL

Posted by: RRrabbitt on November 21 2008 4:39 PM

A moment in the past... a snicker, a grin in reflection, a chuckle of recollection ... good times !!

The Golden Dragon... Akron Steam Bath Hotel... Firestone Tire Store... WM Tire Store... Nechako Sheet Metal and Crazy Horse Fontaine's... The Park Hotel ( a men's hostel with fabulous transient characters and stories! )... Edna's (darling Edna !) booze-can behind the second A & W on Fifth... Johnny's Supper Club at Spruceland Mall... the cabaret/bottle club when the Ramada is today... the brothel in South Fort by Paddlewheel Park... Jack Lee's house (and the incredible hospitality) on Patricia.

Blessings !

V.

Posted by: RRrabbitt on November 21 2008 4:45 PM

Oh... and don't forget the two drive-in food places... one where the Kia dealer is and the other in the empty lot next to the Connaught... which was an Esso station after it replaced the original Harvey's Muffler place which replaced the drive-in... and the Dog and Suds across from Woodwards.... and the "summer-only" drive-in food stand on Hoffercamp Road on the cutbanks overlooking "sin city"... and the Salmon Valley Cafe, which was open 24 hours when nothing else was.... and last but not least... The Stone Creek Hotel.. where everybody showed up with someone else's wife... and everyone pretended to be total strangers !!!

V.

Posted by: NMG on November 21 2008 8:11 PM

Onto another subject, does anyone know what the hell is going on inside the building on Quebec Street (pretty sure it's Quebec) where the Chee Duck Tong Society is located?

Every single day now for about two weeks (I work downtown so I get to see that area), I've noticed loads of people going in and out of that building on a regular basis. Usually walking, sometimes dropped off by cabs but almost always high as a kite when they leave the building. I've had 2 or 3 people almost walk into the side of my car as they leave the building and I'm driving down Quebec Street and it's obvious they are oblivious to what's going on. Let's also just say that the crowd going in and out of there are not folks that you would approach to ask for the time. Perhaps the RCMP should take a walk down there and see what's going on. Given what I've seen, I'd suggest going in with at least 4 or 5 guys with hands on the hip just to be ready. I don't think it's your average squatting location.

I should also add that I'm pretty sure they aren't going into the Chee Duck Tong premises. I just use that to describe the building I'm talking about. Pretty sure they head upstairs.

Ben, if this post is offside (I don't think it is but I'm no expert on that), please delete.

Posted by: Junco on November 21 2008 9:52 PM

Holy! That is an impressive list RRrabbit.
Booze cans and all, lol. Don't forget Jack's Palace on Queensway and Hattie's at the Cache. I only heard about those places but was never there *looks over shoulder*
Oh and don't forget Terry's Cafe on the Hart, I'll admit to that one...always a good place to find a partner in crime when we were too young to drink and had to go out for a "coffee", ha.

Posted by: taxinapothole on November 22 2008 3:01 AM

I remember the old Astoria on George St. metal man. It sounds like we may have had our first illegal drink together...lol Drinking age was 21 then. The vacant lot is still there.

RRrabbitt, Johnny's Supper Club, was where the Ramada is now, and Prince George Motors was next door, on the corner of 5th and George. They later built a show room for car sales at the corner of 7th and Victoria.

Lloyd's drive-in was where KIA is now, and the Rainbow drive-in was across from Victoria Med. After the drive-in went, Home Oil put a service station in, which became the ECONO station.

Hub City Motors started out at the corner of 1st and Dominion, later moving to 6th and Victoria.

Royalite gas station was at the corner of 1st and Victoria, Chrysler dealer at the corner of 3rd and George, I could go on and on!!

Great memories of a town I call home, when things were so peaceful, crime just about unheard of. Didn't have to lock your doors, and didn't have to worry about your children playing out of your sight!

What the HELL happened!

Posted by: getajob on November 22 2008 4:31 AM

hmmmm remember the old Lotus next to ckpg?

Posted by: taxinapothole on November 22 2008 5:15 AM

yep, many a dinner for one in there, $1.50, plus coffee!!

Posted by: Eagleone on November 22 2008 5:47 AM

Thats nothing... one time when Alexander Mackenzie first floated through town... lol just kidding.

I only go as far back as some pop at Shakeys....

Posted by: taxinapothole on November 22 2008 6:46 AM

It was Simon Fraser, Eagleone, he was lost, but he found his way apparently! That is why the Fraser River runs by our city, not the Mackenzie! If you are ever go out to Fraser Lake, Beaumont Park, read the history, very interesting!!

And, Shakey's was the best place in town, in the day!! Somebody should bring it back. It was a great place for kids, and adults alike. Bruce Strachan on the piano....lol. He was a great entertainer, and a hell of a piano player!! That was where politicians were born............lol, sorry Bruce, had to add that!!

Posted by: gus on November 22 2008 7:38 AM

Village Pandora, great pizza and open till late in the morning after movies and bars were closed. So were several of the Chinese restaurants downtown.

PG has really turned into a place where the sidewalks are rolled up after 8pm and earlier.

We have abandoned it for other reasons and the elements that were there even then, but not as visible, have remained. I think it is alomst as simple as the fact that we have evolved into prefering to drive to our places of entertainment, recreation and retail establishments. Just look at Pine Centre's latest changes. Bunch of little disconnected buildings which make it unpleasant to walk to. Look at box store heaven in CH. Same thing for all those smaller retail outlets. Hop from building to building with a car. Walking has gone out of style.

Posted by: taxinapothole on November 22 2008 8:29 AM

you are so right Gus, it is sad, what has happened. I remember when I was very young, going down town on a Saturday with my dad. We would go to a place on 3rd Ave., Jimmy's Ice Cream. It was located in the same block as the Bank of Commerce. Wow, memories, good memories!! Didn't have to worry about the dredges of society robbing you, or assaulting you! There wasn't a worry in the world then.

Of course, if somebody was to step out of line, Magistrate George Stewart would make sure you were not encouraged to break the law again!!

We need judges like that again!!

Posted by: Chester on November 22 2008 10:19 AM

Lloyds Drive-In where they brought you your food on a long wooden tray that stretched from the drivers window to the passenger window inside your car.

Posted by: RRrabbitt on November 22 2008 12:09 PM

Yep, you're right about the Rainbow Drive In Taxi.... good memories... big challenge to be able to smoothly drive around the building on the very narrow circular driveway with the retaining wall at the back... those big "boats" (Don Hanley's 429 Chevy) had a few moments of missed heartbeats !!!

Lloyds had carhops on roller skates for a while... best carhop was the tiny blond with the big .................. smile !!

Johnny's also was at Spruceland before it moved to George Street.... it was about where the clinic is now... Safeway was the anchor at that end before it became a theatre when Safeway moved to Princess Auto's current location.... the Chuckwaggon Cafe was next to where Shoppers is now... all the city trucks, hydro and tel trucks used to park at the back at coffee time....

V.

Posted by: getajob on November 22 2008 1:49 PM

" Dogs and Suds" was a cool hangout...and the 3 A&W drive ins....the old Starlight drive in. I think it was called that,or was it? Yup now that was the PG i loved and miss today. And yes, Jimmy at the Village Pandora...always yelling but the food was great.

Posted by: supertech on November 22 2008 2:40 PM

Shakeys was the only place in town you could get a beer on sunday (had to buy chips too) I spent a few dollars in the
Shasta cafe after spending an evening in the George Hotel. Good old days? I dunno!

Posted by: heidi1555 on November 22 2008 4:00 PM

lol...dubber

Posted by: RRrabbitt on November 22 2008 4:45 PM

Whoops.... sorry, it was a Chevy 454, four door Impala ... (Dopey... 429 was Bill Symes's Cobra and later the 440 Hemi Roadrunner that terrified the D&S crowd... then haunted the drags at Sintich Road... then the Road Gents and the drags at Clucluz Lake old hiway...)

Oh... almost forgot the Dance Club where Norgate Autobody is today...

Oh my !!!

V.

Posted by: Rockin on November 22 2008 6:03 PM

we cant forget the Vienna Schnitzel....
the original Vienna was located on 5th ave
close to where speedee's is now

Posted by: seamutt on November 22 2008 11:41 PM

How about the drags near Tabor neighbor. That 440 wasen't a hemi, vitamin c orange with a big flat black scoop. Hunting season, pickups parked at the INN with rifles in the back window. Try that today!. Parties in the old army rifle range near the pool. Wonder if my Labatts Blue beer can is still on top of the CN bridge.

Posted by: Junco on November 23 2008 1:16 AM

Partys behind the weigh scales or at gravel pit lake. Dances at Red Rock and the scary ride home.Man, how half of us are sti;; here I do not know,lol.

Posted by: Eagleone on November 23 2008 8:41 AM

Taxinapothole. Yes Simon Fraser was the first to discover the Nechako River and thus Fraser Lake and Stuart Lake, but Alexander Mackenzie was the first to float down the Fraser through Prince George.

Posted by: bitter on November 23 2008 8:28 PM

I was a carhop at Lloyds Drive-In and could carry two wooden trays loaded with frosted mugs filled with Root Beer. I have great memories from Lloyds. I met my husband there.I loved going out to the Vienna Schnitzel. I wish I could make the Goulash Soup they served ,does any one have the recipe ??if you have could you post it on free for all Friday.

Posted by: bitter on November 23 2008 8:53 PM

I am also a long time resident of the Miller Connaught area and BCBC better head off in another directon rather than the Ranch Motel. They feared they might get the same repetition of what happened with the Back packer motel site, you can bet on it. We have had enough. Ron Brent School is only a block away from the Ranch Motel but they do not concern themselves with the saftey of seniors and children,they just do what they are told to get ready for the olympics.