Ludmila Dejmek
 

PHILIP WALKER, RECORD STAFF
The Old Marina restaurant is set to reopen later this summer

PUSLINCH July 4, 2006

A Puslinch Lake landmark is rising from the ashes a year after a fire burned the building and its historic contents to the ground. The Old Marina Restaurant is slated to reopen in August, although that may be "optimistic," according to co-owner Donna McKenna, who said the builders have just finished drywalling.

In May 2005, an accidental electrical fire destroyed the building, which first opened its doors in 1927. The spot had been reincarnated many times over the years as a popular dance hall, hotel, marina and, finally, a restaurant.

McKenna and her husband Kingsley Garrett redesigned the new restaurant with the help of Cambridge architect Ludmila Dejmek. "It's going to be exquisite," McKenna said.

"As much as I love the old building, and it was heartbreaking to lose it, the good news is we have an even more outstanding view of the lake." The Muskoka-like view in the old building, complemented by a wraparound deck with original wood flooring, was a magnet for locals seeking the comforts of a cottage in their own backyard.

Extensive renovations in 1993 enhanced the view of the lake, but that view remained constrained by the dimensions of the original structure, McKenna said.

The new building is four feet taller than the original and will boast a panoramic vista, a bigger deck with more seating, a more functional kitchen, and a fireplace that can be viewed from any point in the room.

Puslinch Mayor Brad Whitcombe said people from the community are anxious to see the spot back in business. "On a weekly basis I have people asking me what's happening, is it going to reopen?" he said.

Before the fire, the restaurant was a hub of activity and local culture. Pictures and artifacts that lined the walls went up in smoke on May 13, 2005, destroying tangible evidence of the spot's 78-year history.

But people still remember the special feeling the restaurant evoked. "It had great atmosphere and I'm sure they'll restore that with the new building as well," Whitcombe said.

The restaurant holds personal, as well as professional, significance for McKenna. Her parents danced there to Guy Lombardo in their younger days. "It's taken a long time to get over losing that building," she said.

kikelly@therecord.com