Three businesses rejuvenate historic northside building
Three vastly different business are operating under the same roof as they strive to bring life to north Lethbridge. The doors to “The 418” on 13 Street North have been open for over a month, but today marks their official grand opening event.
As you walk through the entrance door, you'll be greeted with the smells of “Jonny Bean Coffee.” Upstairs you'll find the "Dwell Urban Venue,” a beautiful 1,100square-foot space that can be rented out by the interior design and event rental company “Designed to Dwell.” In the basement, behind the steel bars, lies “Underground Escape,” a family-friendly escape room.
“We felt like having businesses in there that are independent, but also dependent on each other,” said Treena Banda, co-founder of Design to Dwell.
Her goal was to help foster a place that would create a sense of community and collaboration.
When the building became available last December, Banda said she and her business partners could see its potential.
“I just immediately saw a lot of community and life happening out of that building” she said. “I saw it as an opportunity for us to hopefully build something that the northside could be proud of.”
“As we looked back into the history of the building, we realized that in its history it was that; it was known as a hub for the community.”
The building, which is over century old, has been known by many different names over the years.
It was once known as Burgman's Hall according to the Historical Society of Lethbridge and served as meeting space for several groups such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lethbridge and the Masons.
It also served as gathering space for the public for political rallies, recitals, lectures, dances and more. Over the years many business operated out of the building including McCaffery Drugs, the Hart Hardware Store, Restore Builders and more recently the Native Friendship Centre and Murphy's Taekwon-DO.
The building was constructed by bricklayer Richard Burgman and all three business have kept the building's historic integrity.
“We were really excited to have an old building to work with, where we could harness the brick and a bunch of different aspects of the historic nature of the northside,” said Jonathan Harris, owner of Jonny Bean.
“We've exposed the brick, the hardwood floors,” Banda explained. “You feel a sense of history when you're in there but at the same time, it feels current, modern and welcoming.”
The public is invited to attend the official grand opening for the building today at 418 13 St. N. To coincide with the celebration will be a Christmas Market on the upper level from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.