A new hotel and a Jungle Jim’s franchise restaurant are pegged to open in St Anthony by Christmas.
The now-defunct Vinland, which closed its doors in spring this year, was recently purchased by Lloyd Hillier and his wife Judy who own Hotel North in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
“We see this as a great opportunity,” he told the Pen by phone from Labrador last week.
“There really is a lot of potential there in St Anthony with the new wharf, new school, the rec centre — gee whiz with all that’s happening there, the dollars are going to be spent in town.”
A complete overhaul is planned for the building including a new roof, a face-lift outside, refurbishing the rooms and transforming the restaurant and bar section into a Jungle Jim’s eatery.
It will reopen as Hotel North. >
“We’re hoping to open up the first few 20 or so rooms at the beginning of September, then we’ll get to work on all the other rooms,” Mr Hillier said.
“We’re looking at having everything done by December.
“All of the Jungle Jim’s decor is made in Haiti so there’ll be a six to eight week wait on that.
“All these things take time but if stubbornness will make it happen then it’ll get done.”
The reopened hotel would be a boon for tourism on the Northern Peninsula which has taken a hit this summer because of a severe shortage of accommodation.
“When the Vinland closed without notice there were a lot of people left out in the cold and from what I understand that’s been devastating for the tourist industry,” Mr Hillier said.
“My wife and I will run a tight ship. We want to get this opened.”
egraney@northernpen.ca
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