MEDICINE HAT, AB — A landmark in the city’s downtown is for sale and there is hope it’ll find a new owner.
The Royal Hotel has been around since the early 1900s, when only a few shops helped make up what is now South Railway Street.
A local realtor is hoping someone jumps on what’s being called a ‘turn-key opportunity’.
Many say the Royal Hotel is a great live music venue, something the downtown doesn’t have otherwise.
The building has been around since 1904.
The listing describes the dance floor, bar and billiards area which make up more than 5,700 square feet.
Upstairs there are 18 rooms, each with their own bathroom. Currently, they are only rented out to band members coming in from out of town.
Robin Anton, operations manager with the City Centre Development Agency, said there are people who don’t even realize the Royal is still open or what it’s used for now.
He believes the city’s core could hurt if the music venue shuts down.
“It’s a great venue for live bands, which provides some more night life to the downtown, which is kind of what’s lacking right now, in my opinion,” he said. “There’s not much here after 6 p.m. so if that was to close, that would, I think, hurt the downtown more.”
Anton said the one thing missing downtown is a hotel or some other kind of accommodation.
He said having people downtown would be great for the neighbourhood. More foot traffic in the core could also encourage local shops and businesses to stay open later.
He adds he hopes the right person comes along and gets the upstairs fixed up, enough to call the Royal a hotel once again.
“That would be a great opportunity, to renovate this place and get a hotel in the downtown, which we’re severely lacking,” Anton said.
The listing also includes the Royal Liquor Store, which is right next door.
The asking price for both properties is listed at $1,499,000.
The owner of the Royal Hotel and the realtor were both unavailable for comment.
