The 3rd building they've demolished in Belle River in the last 10 years.
Summer 2008
Belle River, ON
I live in a small Ontario town. Things happen slowly here and I can probably count the demolitions that have occurred here during my life on one hand.
Well, we've had an abandoned tavern that's been closed for about 3 years. I always wrote it off because it's next door to a Tim Hortons (Canadian Donut shop - open 24 hrs) which had a view of the side and the back, and next to the tavern was an active house. I didn't like the risk-reward ratio, and so, I procrastinated.
Well I saw the death fences going up Monday, so I thought maybe I should hustle and take a shot at it.
That is, until I rode my bicycle by the next day and saw only 1/2 of the front facade left.
A quick demolition I must say.
This never really was my bar. It was open when I was young and drank in Belle River, but it was always the bar for the metal heads. I hung out with the rap heads and jocks; while the majority of people that went here had long hair and rocked Pantera shirts daily.
I did go once, when a metalhead I worked with told me to come with him as a lame party was laming out. It seemed like the kind of place I'd probably frequent more now that I've gotten older and prefer that type of company.
I was talking to my Dad about this and he said in jest that he should go grab a brick as this was his watering hole in his youth. I'll probably go grab one tonight to give him on his birthday.
The worst part of all this?
The fact that I typed in "King George Belle River" on google and found a flickr set with a bunch of kids rummaging through the place.
If I wasn't bitter enough, that sure poured salt in my wounds.
Sometimes it's just about getting out of the car & taking a shot.
Two things you may be wondering:
1. Tim Horton's bought it so they could demolish the building and build a new Tim Horton's to abandon the old one (which is approximately 9 years old).
2. The other 2 Belle River buildings I could think of were City Limits and that house next to the dentist place by the subway.
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