Iconic Winnipeg ice cream parlour demolished

Rubble is all that remains of an iconic Winnipeg ice cream shop.

Construction crewshavedemolishedBanana Boat, aSouth Osborne ice cream parlour,but the owner of the shop plans to reopen the business in a new building next spring.

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The Winnipeg icon was originally slated fordemolition last October but because of construction delays,itstayed open untilit was demolished onJuly 1.

Hui Chen purchased the ice cream shopa few years ago after her family immigrated to Canada.

Her nephew, Xu Chen, said the business has been a labour of love for the family of three.

BananaBoat wasChen's first job since coming to Canada from China.

"It's really sad for me becauseBanana Boat'sbuilding is kind of a memoryof minefor myself," Chentold CBC Radio on Monday afternoon.

"BananaBoat has become a part of my life."

Chen said the building, built in the 1950's, was old and in need of repairs.

"The air conditioningsystemwas not that good," he said.

"It was always really hot in the summer time to stand inside the store."

Customers sad to seeicon torn down

Chen said many customers areshocked by the closure.

"There were lots of people coming to our store and askus, 'What happened?'"

Linda Michaud is one of those customers. She went to getice creamSundayand said she was surprisedto see the building torn down.

"I'm sad. They had goodicecream," she said.

Chen said hisfamilyhopes to be back in business by next spring.

He said the owner of the land Banana Boat sits on is constructing a two-storey building that will house apartments and a new Banana Boat on the main floor.

If all goes according to plan, the building will be finished next February, and the ice cream shop will open in May or June.

Chen said they will have an expanded selection of ice cream after the family buys new ice cream machines.

"We will try to make it as quick as possible," he said.