Victoria Park Boathouse restaurant opens on weekend

After a series of cancelled re-openings, the city-owned bar, restaurant and music venue, The Boathouse, finally opened on Saturday in Victoria Park, albeit, without its liquor license.

• Victoria Park Boathouse to open for New Year's Eve party

• The Boathouse opening delayed until mid-September

The Boathouse wasabruptly shuttered in September of 2013 by former operator Kevin Doyle, after falling behind on several months' worth of rent and utility payments.

A few days later, the City of Kitchener then began accepting proposals for new operators. That opportunity was eventually awarded to Bill MacTavish, owner of downtown Kitchener restaurant Imbibe, and his partner in the venture, Mark Forwell.

The Boathouse underwent extensive renovations, which included ripping out walls, moving the kitchen and installing all-new wiring and duct work. MacTavish and Forwell first planned on opening the bar last summer, but that opening was delayed until mid-September and then New Year's Eve. Finally, on Jan. 9, community members finally got the tweet they've been waiting for:

On Mobile? See the tweet here.