With a lack of restaurants on campus due to the ongoing Degrees restaurant renovations and the closure of the Wise Guys lounge, Bistro Two-O-Five comes to the rescue, opening its doors at the University of Manitoba this past week.
The bistro calls the space that was formerly rooms 205/207 in University Centre home. It was renovated and prepared to seat 55 guests for a daily formal lunch service.
“Bistro Two-O-Five will be the perfect central location for lunchtime meetings and networking,” said U of M director of public affairs John Danakas.
The bistro boats a bar with a full wine menu, some bar shots and cocktails. This currently makes it the only place on campus where students and staff can purchase alcohol since campus pub Wise Guys was shutdown and Degrees has yet to reopen.
“Establishments that serve liquor can be part of the university environment. Finding the right mix of options remains an ongoing discussion with students and staff,” said Danakas.
The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) recently passed a motion that will see UMSU executives pursue the possibility of opening a student-owned-and-operated pub to replace Wise Guys.
Heather Laube, UMSU president, said that UMSU is currently in the process of putting together a proposal for the new pub.
“UMSU will approach the university administration with a proposal for a pub and negotiate terms that are amenable to both parties,” stated Laube.
Laube pointed out that the Wise Guys’ space would require significant reworking before it could be reopened, and wouldn’t expect a new pub to be ready for some time. She added that the name would not be Wise Guys, as UMSU does not retain the legal rights to the name.
Laube felt that a student-owned-and-operated pub would better cater to students, focusing on their best interests and needs.
“Bars can be very profitable, but we know that having a pub focused on service and students would be far better than one focused on making money,” remarked Laube.
“[ . . . ] Unlike a private owner, a student-owned-and-operated pub would be accountable to students themselves, and the students on this campus would help set the direction for how the pub should be run.”
Laube felt that campus amenities, like pubs and eateries, are vital to campus culture, saying that students enjoy different things, but every student requires somewhere to relax, study, and meet new people or host events.
Places like IQ’s, Wise Guys and Degrees meet these student needs, said Laube.
“All of these unique spaces on campus lend to the student experience. [ . . . ] It’s an integral part of helping to build a campus community,” reflected Laube.
Laube stated that the Degrees renovations are expected to be complete within a week, with the restaurant opening shortly after.
U of M student Kaitlyn Marriot said that she was disappointed that Wise Guys was shutdown, as she thought it was a fine place, and thought it great was great that UMSU is working on starting a student-owned-and-operated pub.
“You should have one place that you can go and have [a drink],” said Marriot, when asked if pubs should be apart of university campuses.
