Winnipeggers debate future of bridge space after Chez Sophie closes

There has to be a way to make the now-vacant restaurant space on the Esplanade Riel foot bridge in St. Boniface viable year-round, even if it means having more than one tenant there, says oneWinnipeg city councillor.

• Chez Sophie, Winnipeg's only bridge restaurant, closes its doors

On Monday, Chez Sophie, the French restaurant occupying the bridge space close tothe Canadian Museum for Human Rights, announced it was closing its doors.

Winnipeggershave wonderful ideas and let's see how we can make this one work.- Coun. John Orlikow

The restaurant was less than two years into a five-year lease it signed withthe city. It took over the locationafter a seven-year failed experiment led Sals to pull away from the space.

On Tuesday,Coun. John Orlikowadmitted thesite's accessibility poses a series of logistical challenges for businesses.

Many in Winnipeg have been quick to chime into the conversation with suggestions of whatmight be a more sustainable business model for the space. One such suggestion involves closing the space down during the winter when foot traffic, and therefore sales, areat theirlowest.

But Orlikowsaid he believes the space should be used year-round and the city might have to play a bigger role in making the site more viable for restaurateurs.

"I'm a big fan of using assets of the city, so I don't want to give into the fact that we'll only use that beautiful asset eight months of the year," said Orlikow. "Let's find uses that work all year. Maybe it's two different tenants. Maybe it's more of a community use in the winter."

Orlikow wants there to be an open expression of interest on the site.

"I would be concerned if we're not using such a great asset 12 months of the year, so we should be finding something," said Orlikow. "Again, let's get the ideas out there. Winnipeggers have wonderful ideas and let's see how we can make this one work."

It isn't yet know what will happen to the space.

Owners Stephane and Sophie Wild explained in a Facebook post Monday that a combination of high operating costs associated with the location as well as significant seasonal dips in businessinfluenced the decision toclose.