Frantz expansion to open in its 50th year

Winter held off and the concrete is poured in front of the Frantz Inn.

Room is being made to expand the vendor to offer a wider variety of drinks, vapes and more. The new space will also house more VLTs, which means the current VLT space will become a more private extension of the Edge lounge.

Lounge manager Charles Tyson said the goal is to finish the expansion by January next year. When the vendor is done expanding, about half the new space is expected to be dedicated to vapes and possibly cannabis paraphernalia. Cannabis itself is not expected to be sold.

The Frantz was built on the edge of the RM of La Broquerie just outside Steinbach in September 1975, 50 years before it opens another chapter with the expansion.

Tyson pointed to the dozens of homes planned to be built nearby as a reason for expanding the Frantz’ offerings.

“Right now we’re the largest vendor in the Southeast, and as it is it’s pretty tight back there for space,” said Tyson.

He said if customers ask consistently for something, they will bring it in — though there is a limit.

“A lot of Russians and Germans are asking for off-the-wall stuff. We can’t get that for one person,” laughed Tyson.

The new space will house up to 12 more VLTs if the Frantz’ application is approved by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. The old VLT lounge will remain, but be used for when people want a more private space with a partition from the lounge, which can be bumping on some nights.

It also allows customers to come in for a drink and snack without paying the cover of any events being held in the lounge, like the comedy show on Oct. 18 or the return of the popular band Club Wagon Creek in February.

Events and private functions are how the Frantz is trying to become more of a destination in the region. The idea is to have people come to the outskirts of Steinbach instead of making the trip to Winnipeg every time they are looking for a little entertainment.

“We do have the Bistro right next door, so because we serve food in both the lounge and the Bistro, we can always reserve the Bistro for people and shut that down for the evening and flow people into [the lounge].

“But if people want to come for drinks beforehand, they want to have a private gathering, we can section off an area now inside the lounge,” explained Tyson.

There is also a karaoke competition starting up that will have its semi-finals at the Frantz, with the finals at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Gordon Inn on the Park. Karaoke happens every Thursday.

A new karaoke system was put in place, as was a new subwoofer for the sound system after building a new stage and complaints from hotel guests and even neighbours a considerable distance from the lounge. Tyson said that is all part of juggling the five departments of the Frantz: the lounge, restaurant, VLTs, vendor and the hotel.

“Keeping all of them in check is somewhat difficult,” said Tyson.

Bad Google reviews on the disturbing sound were coming from people who came to the hotel for a wedding at the Rustic Barn down the road, or for fishing and hunting. But it is what lounge users came for, so Tyson said a solution was found with new technology.

The Frantz was built nearly 50 years ago after a referendum in the spring of 1973 denied the option of mixed drinks being added to a new proposed motor hotel by Alvin and Marlene Frantz.

They had bought the old Tourist Hotel and its men’s beer parlour in 1972 and wanted the new hotel to be built on the same Main Street property after tearing it down. They then turned to the RM of La Broquerie and the Frantz was born.

The ’73 referendum effectively made Steinbach a dry town. The city voted 50.9 percent in favour to lift its liquor ban in 2003.

-With files from Wes Keating.