Calgary's Shamrock Hotel shuts its doors

The Shamrock Hotel in the city's southeast, one of the oldest in Calgary, suddenlyshut its doorsonDec. 12.

Burlap Sac, a local band scheduled to play at the hotel baron Dec. 18, posted a cancellation note on FacebookFridaysaying the venue was closing.

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"I was given a heads up by the promoter on Thursday this week that the bar might not be staying open till the end of the year," Jimmy Tersmette told CBC News by email.

"Yesterday that was confirmed. He told us that the owner was getting ready to sell the property to make way for the new southeast LRT line and wants to retire."

News of the closure was confirmed byDarcy Clendenning, managing director of Entertainment Services and Products, which books bands at the hotel, but hotel owners would not return phone calls and, oddly, a staff member whoanswered the phone early on Saturday said she knew nothingof the closure.

Staff stopped answering the phones on Saturday afternoon.

"Yesterday was the last day, theyclosed," said Clendenning, who couldn't speak to the details.

"The owner is retiring and that's all there is to it. It's not a big thing."

Green Line route

The hotel, originally built in 1914 by Burns Meats to serve its workers and those of CP Rail in the southeast community of Ramsay, is one of the oldest hotels in the city and home to one of Calgary's oldest music venues. It was renovated and partially rebuilt after a fire in 2012.

It's alsositting on the route of the future southeast leg of the Green Line LRT.

A Dec. 7in-camera agendaitem for city councillists discussions on the acquisition of the property, and one directly across the street that serves as an annex to the Shamrock, but details are not available at this time.

"There's no official sale or anything, and all real estate transactions by the City of Calgary are completely in-camera until they're public," said Ward 9 Councillor Gian-CarloCarra, who represents the area.

"We can't really talk about it, there's nothing to report. If and when there's a sale finalized we'll talk about it."

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The alignment of the southeast Green Line, which was recently approved by city council, follows the CP tracks over 11 Street S.E. and behind some heritage buildings northeast of the Shamrock, before crossing the roadway right next to the hotel.

The Bragging Bride Boutique, located across the street in an annex of the hotel, is moving to Sunalta onDec. 13, but the owner declinedto comment on whether that had anything to do with the building being torn down.

Changes coming to area

Carra won't confirm whether the LRT alignment threatens the old hotel.

"All I can do is comment on that as any citizen would be able to comment who was at any of the public events. It's close."

Carra says as someone who "loves the arts and cultural character of Inglewood and Ramsay"it would be unfortunate to lose "an iconic music venue, especially on the emerging music mile."

That said, he'sstill bullish on changes coming to the area.

"I can assure you that the plans that are emerging for Inglewood and Ramsay as a vibrant transit-oriented development environment, if the Shamrock is lost as a music venue, it will only be a temporary setback in the vibrancy of the area, because the net (gain) will be incredibly positive."