Anna Maria’s Cafe in Lacombe will get a refresh after council approved a $125,500 renovation.
The original budget for the renovation was $132,000 and the contract was awarded to Bullseye Contracting, after the city received nine different offers.
Mathew Goudy, Lacombe chief administrative office, said council say a need for improved service delivery and more efficiency from the kiosk — with most of the improvements coming to the kitchen
“With the upgrade, expanding some of the kitchen options will allow the current tenant to expand their offerings of food and ensure they are able to make those in-house. We are looking forward to continued success from that tenant,” Goudy said.
The CAO is confident that the city received a good price on the renovation and the changes will allow the kiosk to serve the original purpose of the space being a community hub.
“I can’t say there will be a huge change for the visitors to the cafe itself. The viability of that space is greatly increased and there will be some enhanced offerings, I’m sure. I think there will be a refresh of some of the finishings and the furniture,” he said.
Goudy said the improvements are needed given the space is now 15-years-old.
It is due. It has been about 15 years since that was constructed, so it will be a general refresh for customers as well.
“The Fireside Lounge was to be a gathering place and a hub for visitors to the building and the downtown. This will help do that and things like the skating rink we helped develop there have served to help us there as well,” Goudy said.
Lacombe Mayor Grant Creasey spoke against the improvements but is overall pleased with the current tenant and the proposed contractor.
“I do have some concerns and I will start by saying none of those concerns lay with the current operator, nor do they lie with the proposed contractor,” he said.
Creasey felt the city has a responsibility to be a good landlord for the space, but these improvements fall outside that purview.
“I think that for some that could be construed as a bit of an overreach,” he said.
Creasey does, however, believe the improvements will provide a service to guest to the Lacombe Memorial Centre.
The remaining $7,000 budgeted will act as a contingency fund for the renovations.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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