Demolition begins at Bonanza Steakhouse

A familiar sight along Saskatoon’s 8th Street East has been down after a devastating fire.

The Bonanza  Steakhouse was heavily damaged in a blaze on Feb. 21.

The sign outside Bonanza Steakhouse as crews work to demolish the fire-ravaged restaurant on April 27, 2017. (Jay Thomas/650 CKOM)

On Wednesday, crews demolished the building, wiping away 21 years of memories for owner Gary Baba.

“I saw the crane taking out the front of the building. It was a sad day,”  Baba said.

The day after the fire, Baba told 650 CKOM that he hoped to rebuild, amid an outpouring of support for the long-running establishment.

He said Thursday those plans were up in the air as he and the building’s landlord finalize their insurance claim.

The fire also forced the closure of the H&M Dumpling House, another restaurant housed in the same building. Ownership at that restaurant also planned to rebuild.

This week, crews started tearing down the building, whose bright red sign has been visible to travellers along Eighth Street for 45 years.

Currently, there is no timeline on when a new structure might be built.