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![\"Ruth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4082424_web1_260323-CommonWealth-1-.jpg\")
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Ruth Bonneville \/ Free Press<\/p>\n
Nikola Maharajh in his recently renovated restaurant at 456 Main St. Eight months after being damaged by fire, Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar will have its grand opening April 8.<\/p>\n
Commonwealth had been closed since a fire investigated as arson broke out at the property July 10. The 456 Main St. eatery held its first weekend nightlife events Friday and Saturday, and plans to be open on weekend nights leading up to its full grand opening April 8.<\/p>\n
Jesse Wheatland is accused of 22 arson, break-in, and property-damage offences between June 11 and Nov. 18 at 11 locations, including a number of downtown restaurants, an event centre and the constituency offices of two Manitoba politicians. His next court date is March 30.<\/p>\n
Not every business forced to close due to the spate of fires will return.<\/p>\n
Exchange District staple restaurant Johnny G\u2019s (at 177 McDermot Ave.) closed after a fire Aug. 20. Days later, police said it was being investigated as arson and was later one of the offences charged to Wheatland.<\/p>\n
Owner John Giannakis, who has run the business since 1996, said Monday that Johnny G\u2019s will not reopen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re retired,\u201d Giannakis said, but declined to comment further.<\/p>\n
At Boujee Restaurant & Bar, which went up in flames Oct. 23, co-owner Amit Saini said debris is still being cleaned out and there\u2019s no timeline for when it may reopen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very, very bad inside,\u201d Saini said.<\/p>\n
In some ways, it\u2019s exciting for Maharajh to be back in business. His concerns the eight-month closure would impact turn-out appear to be unfounded \u2014 Commonwealth hit capacity both Friday and Saturday night, and staff have already booked reservations for Christmas parties.<\/p>\n
About 80 per cent of staff prior to the fire will return for its full opening, and visitors can expect new cocktails and menu items, he said.<\/p>\n
However, he called the fact that the fires caused so much damage to other businesses in the community \u201cheartbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery business was complementing each other, and the more businesses that got added in the area, it made it better for everybody,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people who kind of look at it from the outside think it\u2019s good to have less competition, but it actually hurts everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the midst of repairs, which included replacing flooring, the ceiling and the building\u2019s electrical system, Maharajh\u2019s insurance company sent him a letter essentially saying it would no longer be covering the building and he had to find a new insurance provider to be able to open.<\/p>\n
He believes concerns of increasing crime in the downtown Winnipeg area were behind his former insurance company\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t imagine it being a desirable area for them to insure. And then we see our insurance rates go up, and then it becomes harder for businesses to open in general, too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association CEO Shaun Jeffrey said rapidly increasing insurance costs have been a growing problem for restaurateurs, and businesses have seen their providers \u201cpulling out of the insurance game for the restaurant industry and the hospitality industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the provincial government set to release its 2026 budget today, Jeffrey said he and many others in the industry will be watching closely for any investment in business.<\/p>\n
While some provincial initiatives such as the Manitoba Security Rebate Program, launched in December to cover some costs for crime-related repairs or expenses for businesses, have been \u201cnecessary,\u201d Jeffrey said the industry is waiting on efforts that grow Manitoba\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The rebate is) to alleviate a situation of increased crime in Manitoba, that\u2019s not a business growth situation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re just looking for them to really kind of live up to their election promises, and to have that horse drive the economic cart.\u201d<\/p>\n
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Malak Abas Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg\u2019s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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