Fenton's Gourmet Foods & Wine Merchants: 25 Years at The Forks

Mo Razik remembers the days he would drive down a gravel road at The Forks, all the way up to Fenton’s Gourmet Cheese Shop – one of the first shops to open at The Forks Market in 1989. He would park his car in what is now Centre Court.

This is Fenton. He hasn't missed a day since '89.

In 25 years, Fenton’s has grown – both physically and in popularity – at The Forks.

In 1994, Mo was granted the first-ever license to own a private wine store in Manitoba, and Fenton’s Wine Merchants opened.

In 2004, after some major renovations to both their license and their space, Fenton’s built a spiral staircase up to the second floor of the store where they sell an endless variety of spirits, liqueurs and also cigars.

And most recently, they expanded the main-floor to include more space to shelve a wider selection of wine.

Fenton’s specializes in grape-based spirits and liqueurs, including brandies, cognacs, armagnacs, and grappas – the latter two of which they carry the largest selection in all of Canada.

You’ll find a different and more in-depth selection of liqueurs at Fenton’s than any other store in Manitoba because Mo works directly with producers – some of which make their products only for Fenton’s.

And you’d be surprised at how diverse grapes can be when it comes to being turned into alcoholic beverages – Fenton’s carries a huge selection of colours and flavours of liqueurs, including bright turquoise pistachio, cantaloupe-coloured melon, and a crowd favourite, white chocolate.

And since summer is just around the corner, Mo suggests picking up a bottle of Limoncello, which has the uncanny ability to turn any drink into a patio drink – but he does point out that it’s best served with ice and soda or as an aperitif.

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, you might want to take advantage of Fenton’s excellent gift basket service – they can combine any of their products from the cheese shop and the wine store, as well as your own items or anything you can find here at The Forks.  

And if you’re not sure how to pronounce the name of the wine you’ve chosen to serve to your dinner guests, or you don’t know what temperature to serve it at or what shape of glass to serve it in, the kind folks at Fenton’s will have all of the advice for you. And if you’re looking for more than advice, Fenton’s also offers wine education courses on regular basis, including several one-evening seminars from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. in May, highlighting learning and tasting in a relaxed setting. For more information visit Fenton's shop at The Forks Market, or online.  

By The Forks communications intern, Larissa Peck

Celebrating 25 years

The Forks history goes back much further than 25 years. The Assiniboine and Red Rivers have a rich, unique history that has shaped Winnipeg into what it is today. This year, 2014, is the 25th anniversary of The Forks as we know it today.

1988: Forks Renewal Corporation is established 26 years ago.

1989: The Forks National Historic Site officially opens with a Riverwalk, amphitheater, boat dock, heritage adventure playground and interpretive area.

The Riverwalk.

1989: The Forks Market opens – The Forks Market, as we know it now, has an antique yet modern feel. Look one direction and you see weathered bricks, look the other direction and you see a glass atrium. The Forks Market was built by joining two brick cartage company stables. The original stables are now over a century old.

The Forks Market being built.

Atrium of The Forks Market under construction.

1990: National Sculpture Competition for the Path Through Time was awarded to Manitoba artist Marcel Gosselin.  Sunlight shining through this sculpture illustrates people’s influence on this land throughout history. Bronze carvings of tools are reflected onto the stone of the sculpture at different times of the year as the sun’s path moves through the sky. The Wall Through Time forms a graphic retelling of historic events that took place at The Forks throughout its 6,000-year history.

Path Through Time.

Wall Through Time.

1990: The opening of the Canopy area and skating rink.

1991: Construction of The Forks Historic Port is completed which features layered landscaping and a lighthouse.

The Forks Historic Port during construction.

1993: Oodena Celebration Circle opens as the spiritual centre of The Forks. Eight sculptural steel armatures surrounding the circle are used as guides marking the celestial orientation. The three-metre deep bowl in the Oodena Celebration Circle is used as seating for live theatre.

Oodena Celebration Circle

Oodena Celebration Circle overlooking Inn at the Forks

1993: The Johnston Terminal was transformed into a retail office complex including Explore Manitoba Centre. The original building was built between 1928 and 1930 and was used as a giant cold storage warehouse.

Johnston Terminal

1993: The Explore Manitoba Centre opens featuring information and displays highlighting Manitoba’s diversity and culture.

1994: Manitoba Children’s Museum opens in what was formerly called the Brakes and Boiler Building. The B&B Building was built in 1889 and is now known as the Kinsmen Building.

Manitoba Children's Museum under construction.

1995: The Forks North Portage Partnership is created with a mandate “to act as a catalyst, encouraging activities for people in the downtown area through public and private partnerships, revitalization strategies; and to work to ensure financial self-sufficiency.” The Partnership helps ensure The Forks remains a special and distinct, all-season recreational space that embraces historical, cultural, residential, and/or commercial uses.

1999: Scotiabank Stage and Festival Park are built for the 1999 Pan Am Games held in Winnipeg. Main stage concerts were held at Scotiabank Stage. The Pan Am Games monument located beside Inn at The Forks still stands today. The monument served as the flame cauldron for the Pan Am Games.

Scotiabank Stage and Festival Park during Canada Day.

1999: Manitoba Theatre for Young People moves into the 28,000 square-foot CanWest Global Performing Arts Centre at The Forks.

1999: A former steam plant building, built in 1947, is converted into a television studio. Today it is home Citytv which broadcasts the local Breakfast Television show.

2000: The 21 gambling sticks created by artist Robert Houle are installed along the Riverwalk as an Aboriginal millennium tribute.

2003: The three-level parkade opens at The Forks.

2004: Winnipeg and St. Boniface are connected once again after the completion of the Broadway Promenade pathway and Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge.  The iconic Esplanade Riel was designed by Etienne Gaboury who is the invited architect for Warming Huts v:2014. The Esplanade Riel is the only bridge in North America featuring a restaurant.
 

Esplanade Riel

2004: The five-storey Inn at the Forks is constructed.  It has 116 guest rooms and suites and a reception area for up to 200 people. It is the first Canadian application of the “Redi-Maid” system that ensures maximum energy efficiency without disturbing hotel guests.

2006: Plaza at The Forks Skate Park is completed and covers a total area of 44,000 square feet. It is Canada’s best and largest urban skate plaza and bowl complex. Plaza at The Forks has the distinction of being sought-out by world-renowned skaters such as Tony Hawk and Bam Margera.

Tony Hawk at Plaza at The Forks Skate Park.

2008: The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the Red River Mutual Trail as the world’s longest skating rink at 8.54 kilometres.

Red River Mutual Trail.

2008: Construction begins on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.  It is the first new national museum created in Canada since 1967 and the first national museum built outside the National Capital Region. The purpose of the museum is to increase understanding and awareness of human rights, promote respect for others, and encourage reflection, dialogue, and action.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights under construction.

2009: Part of our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint we initiated Target Zero. So far we have competed a geothermal heat pump system, biofuel, bio composting, water use, and recycling projects. To date, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 42% (448 tonnes of CO2e) and reduced our heating costs by 14%.

Composting system at The Forks.

2010: The first annual Warming Huts: An Art + Architecture Competition takes place.
 

Warming Hut on the Red River Mutual Trail.

2014: Canadian Museum for Human Rights is set to open September 20, 2014.

The Forks is more than just an historical site or a meeting place. It is both physically and culturally the heart of Winnipeg. Over 25 years of delicate heritage restoration made The Forks into what it is today. The Forks embraces not only summer but winter activities. Over 4 million visitors visit The Forks every year with the number of visitors in the winter rivalling the summer. With the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the fall this has been a well-rounded 25 years at The Forks.  

~Taylor Cole, Intern at The Forks