'We literally ran out of money': Calgary Legion forced to close pub, sell building
CTV
It was supposed to be a model for Legions across Canada but, six years after it opened, the Royal Canadian Legion No. 264, known locally as the Kensington Legion, has closed its public restaurant and bar and sold its building, becoming a tenant in the property it once owned.
It was supposed to be a model for Legions across Canada but, six years after it opened, the Royal Canadian Legion No. 264, known locally as the Kensington Legion, has closed its public restaurant and bar and sold its building, becoming a tenant in the property it once owned.
“It's sad from a couple of points of view,” said Alan Pentney, treasurer of the branch. “We could not generate the revenues we had expected. We wanted to put them back into the community. We had projected possibly a $250,000 in profits if everything had gone well, which would have gone back into the community.
“It’s also sad because we has such an excellent space that we were able to provide service to people.”
Legion No. 264 moved into its digs at 1918 Kensington Road as part of a land swap with Truman Development Corporation in 2017. The deal saw Truman build a four-storey office complex, with a street level pub, and exchange it for the Legion’s large property next door.
Under the new model, the Legion expected three revenue streams: memberships, office space leases and the 1918 Tap and Table Pub.
“The 1918 Tap and Table was very successful. For the first two years, you needed reservations to get in here,” said Pentney, “and then of course, COVID came along, but it still remained very popular.”
While the Tap and Table was profitable, it did not make enough to offset losses in the other revenue streams.
