Putting the lid on Sals Main

Winnipeggers decked out in gowns and tuxedos used to line up at the north Main Street Salisbury House for midnight meals.

That was decades ago. Now, 1545 Main St. doesn’t get the night-time wedding and bar mitzvah crowds — it isn’t open past 2 p.m. — and it’s an outlier from the Manitoba chain’s other eateries.

So, it’s up for sale.

“It’s not an easy decision,” said Earl Barish, chair of the Salisbury House board.

He was one of those late-night visitors at the Main Street Sals in years past. He understands the nostalgia customers have, he said.

However, the 1,562-square-foot space no longer represented the brand.

“The company made a decision (around a decade ago) that we needed to go into full service,” Barish said.

Salisbury House operates a dine-in model, with servers greeting customers and taking orders.

The Main Street location was the last quick-service type of store where customers would grab their meals at the counter and find a seat.

Salisbury House had six such restaurants and has chosen not to renew leases as they expire, Barish said.

“Nowadays, people are looking for drive-thrus, full service… or patios. The other type of service just doesn’t fit,” he said.

The location isn’t very busy, nor is it large enough to convert to full service, Barish noted. Further, the company would need to spend several thousand dollars on renovations, including updating the HVAC system.

“It just reached the point where this had to be done,” Barish said. “It was necessary and made sense.”

The red-roofed staple, built in 1963, is listed for $421,500. An online description notes the space could be suitable for residential development.

Affected staff will transfer to other locations, Barish said. The chain has nine hubs in the winter and 12 in the summer, once the Winnipeg Goldeyes start playing and city golf courses open.

“Salisbury House is alive and well,” Barish said, adding the recent listing doesn’t reflect a decline in sales.

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