Paraphrased from the Nelson Star’s article on the Savoy.

Few buildings in Nelson hold as many stories or have been reborn as many times as the Savoy Hotel. Once known as the Athabasca, this landmark has stood proudly on the corner of Baker and Falls Streets for more than a hundred years, surviving fires, closures, and countless reinventions along the way.

The Athabasca Hotel (1914)

The Savoy’s story begins on February 12, 1914, when pioneer miner and hotelier John Philbert opened the doors to the brand-new Athabasca Hotel. Built from brick and stone, the three-storey hotel was considered “modern throughout” by the Daily News. With 40 steam-heated rooms, hot and cold running water, a dining room, a reading lounge, and even a drinking fountain, the first of its kind in Nelson, the Athabasca set a new standard for comfort in the city.

On opening night, guests were welcomed with an orchestra, a grand dinner, and a lively dance that carried on into the night.

Becoming the Savoy

In 1924, new owner John A. Kerr gave the hotel its new name: The Savoy. It quickly became a gathering place for the community. The beer parlour, known as the Lothian Arms, featured polished walnut counters and maple trim in a sleek, futuristic design. It was a hub of conversation, connection, and sometimes controversy. In fact, it was the site of a notorious 1934 scuffle between police and Doukhobor leader Peter P. Verigin.

Over the years, ownership passed through many hands, each leaving their mark. From hairdressing parlours to lively pubs that catered to Canadian Pacific Railway crews, the Savoy adapted with the times, always keeping people coming through its doors.

Fire, Reinvention, and the Disco Era

Disaster struck in 1973 when fire gutted the northern half of the hotel. But true to its resilient spirit, the Savoy rose again. Just a year later, it reopened as the Savoy Inn, complete with 20 modernized rooms, a larger pub, and a new disco called Kips.

The Savoy continued to evolve over the following decades. Restaurants like McDammit’s and Bogart’s brought new flavors to town, while expansions next door added a bowling alley and bingo hall, making the Savoy a true hub of nightlife and entertainment.

Between the 1980s and the 2000s, several nightclubs came and went: The Twilight Zone, Club Utopia, the Avalon, Fluid Lounge, RezAvoir, and Club 198.

The Long Closure

Another devastating fire in 2007 forced the Savoy’s doors shut once more. For years, the building stood silent, caught up in insurance disputes and legal hurdles. Several proposals to revive it, including one to transform it into community housing, never came to fruition.

Grand Reopening

Everything changed in 2013, when Shambhala Music Festival purchased the building, just in time for the hotel’s 100th anniversary. Some of Shambhala’s earliest meetings had taken place in the Savoy’s Avalon nightclub, making the acquisition a kind of homecoming.

A few years later, Bloom Nightclub opened in the basement, keeping the music alive in the Savoy and carrying on its long tradition as a hub for nightlife and culture

Looking Ahead

As the Savoy steps into its second century, its story remains one of resilience, reinvention, and community. From the gala dances of 1914, to the disco lights of the 1970s, to the parties at Bloom today, the Savoy has always been a place where people come together to celebrate life.

If you have not experienced the Savoy in its current chapter, we invite you to come see it for yourself. Whether you are drawn to Bloom Nightclub’s energy, the history etched into the walls, or simply the vibrant spirit that has carried the Savoy through more than a century, you will find yourself part of its living story.

The Savoy Hotel: A Century of Stories, Resilience, and Revival