In 1971, Leo Noonan, the former manager of Safeway in Fort Frances, purchased a restaurant called Gourmet House on the shore of Sand Bay–a restaurant that has since grown to become the biggest hotel in the Rainy River District.
“It was just intended as a restaurant. Then after a few years of being in here, he had a dream of putting a hotel in here,” noted Noonan’s son, Paul.
On Sunday, Paul Noonan and Leo’s brother-in-law, George Blanc, who now co-own La Place Rendez-Vous, opened the door of their latest expansion for people to see.
“Things have gone pretty steady, we’ve had fairly even growth throughout the years,” the younger Noonan said. “We’ve built according to what we thought the market was demanding.”
The two-floor, $1.8-million expansion, which saw an addition of 23 rooms, including four luxury suites, attracted about 200 people who dropped by Sunday to take a look.
With whirlpools, “residential colours,” and honeymoon suites, the new addition drew a number of compliments from those taking the tour.
In total the facility now counts 68 rooms. The hotel was expanded east along the waterfront with the lower level rooms opening out on the beach front.
Adjacent land purchased in the past has allowed La Place Rendez-Vous, which now has 68 rooms to go along with a bar/restaurant and banquet facilities, to stretch out along the waterfront.
“That’s been our biggest asset, we’ve had property we’ve been able to expand on,” said Blanc.
The expansion also has meant an additional four-six staff.
“We sort of feel we’ve grown to an optimum size for now,” noted Paul Noonan. “Before we’d hold a conference with 200 people and some would have to stay somewhere else.”
The hotel’s growth has been a step by step process since the first 18 rooms and lobby were added in 1984. Another 16 rooms were added in 1986, as well as an in-house laundry facility, and then another 16 rooms were added and the bar refurbished three years later.
The next project was the addition of the 300-seat banquet hall in 1993.
Noonan and Blanc have been continuously looking at improving the hotel since they became the sole owners. Noonan became owner in 1976 while Blanc bought out other shareholders and joined him as co-owner in ’86.
“There’s not too many dull moments,” said Noonan. “[But] the bottom line is we both enjoy working with people. We meet all different types of people from all corners of the earth.
“When you meet people in here, they’re out for a good time and for the excitement,” he added.
Although born in Winnipeg, Noonan and Blanc both call Fort Frances home–and have been active in the community, from sitting on town council or the local Catholic school board to coaching the high school senior boys’ basketball team.
“I think the roots are here now,” admitted Blanc. “We’ve been well supported by the community.”
While more competition is coming with the construction of the new Super 8 Hotel in the west end, Noonan and Blanc remain confident the district’s latest developments, such as the new arena here, and new businesses like Voyageur Panel have brought enough diversity into the area to support the hotels.
“I think what’s happened in the town in the last few years in going to help our business,” Blanc said.
But with 70 percent of their business coming from business travellers passing through, both agreed Fort Frances should continue to work towards becoming a travel destination rather than an in-transit stopover.
“I think the tourism industry in the area can be further developed for sure as a destination,” said Noonan. “Like with eco-tourism, where you sort of enjoy the natural resources of the area without being destructive.”
Noonan and Blanc agreed that after the latest expansion, they are not looking to make the Rendez-Vous any bigger–for now–but tentative plans already are being considered to add a swimming pool and exercise area, and eventually to refurbish the bar and lounge areas again.
“Never stop growing. You stop growing, you roll backwards,” Blanc reasoned.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
