Banking on Windsor: Plans for restaurant in former Walkerville CIBC building

Vito Maggio is banking on his latest Walkerville investment to lockdown diners in Windsor.

The restaurateurpurchased the former CIBCbuilding that's towered over the corner of Devonshire Roadand Assumption Street since the 1890s.

"You can duplicate something, but this is what you call original," he said, hauling open the almost three-and-a-half metre front doors.

Maggiogrew up in the neighbourhood and passed the building's sturdy columns and decorative facade almost every day for years. He may own properties peppered throughout Walkerville, but said this purchase was special.

"To own this building is exciting for me," he said. "Every time I drive by it, every time I come here, I mean, if I wanted one building in Old Walkerville this was it."

Walkervillepublisher Chris Edwards has studied the neighbourhood and said there's a reason the "magnificent structure" looks so solid.

"In 1907 there was a lot of up and down in the market," he said. "So when they built banks they wanted them to show strength and stability so that's why you see these giant pillars in the front."

Edwardsadded he was pleased it had been purchased and can't wait to see how it will "animate" the area.

"The thing was built to last a thousand years, I swear," he said. "We think the neighbourhood just keeps getting better and better."

Maggiois still tight-lipped about his exact plans, but said his visions includes fine food and drinks.

"I'm thinking a very long bar, that could fit 60 to 70 people," he said, while walking through the cavernous lobby. With one hand pointing to the thick steel door of a vault, he started placing imaginary tables and chairs.

"You can have a private little room in here with 10 to 12 people," he explained, knocking on the steel walls to showcase their strength. "Wine, oysters,private wine tastings ... alot of things are already going in my mind as we continue this new adventure."

One feature his heart is set on is a rooftop patio that would take advantage of the bank's unique Walkervillevantage point and views of the Detroit River.

Taking in the view fine, but Maggioishoping to transform the bank into the kind of place that keeps Windsorites from following their palates across it.

"I want to create somehing where you don't have to go to Detroit, you can stick around this area and have something that a lot of people are looking for."