Here's the response to my email to Leon's complaining about their Roundhouse venture:
Dear (Interchange42),
Thank you for your recent e-mail. Together with the City, the Toronto Railroad Historical Association and the Developer, we are planning to turn a significant part of the site into a Historical Railway Museum. Although the building will house about 30,000 square feet for a Brewery (currently in place) 8,000 square feet for a Museum and 39,000 square feet for a Leon’s Showroom, the entire site including the area outside the building and the park will have significantly more square footage reserved for museum pieces and the history of the railroad. The turntable is being restored as is the coal tower outside our front entrance.
The turntable will have an engine on it for viewing by the public. The coal tower will also have an engine under it again for viewing by the public. The front entrance of our premises will have a display of the history of the Roundhouse. A portion of our adjoining wall with the museum will be turned into glass so visitors will be able to see into the museum. The park will have train tracks situated in strategic locations. It will also have at least two historical train stations in different locations again for viewing by the public. Additional engines and/or railroad memorabilia are likely to be added.
The Roundhouse building itself will be restored to its original grandeur. It is a building that we believe will be very beautiful once it is restored. There will be a showroom only in the building with contemporary upscale merchandise for condominiums including smaller frames, many accessories and a variety of artifacts and linens. Warehousing and deliveries of our products will not be done from this location but from other facilities in the GTA. It only makes sense to display our showroom so that it compliments the restored building.
In 2009 we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary and the Roundhouse will be celebrating its 80th anniversary. Together with the Historical Association, The City, and the Developer, we are working as a team to create a site that the people of Toronto will enjoy visiting. We believe our heritage and the heritage of the site are an excellent combination to accomplish this together.
Sincerely,
Leon's Customer Care
