Editor:
May 24, 2021 marks a sad day for me and so many other musicians, artists and creative-minded people living in New Westminster and throughout the Lower Mainland, as we approach the two-year anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Heritage Grill. Opened in 2005 and just steps away from the Columbia SkyTrain station, the Heritage Grill was a restaurant and, most importantly, a significant New West cultural hub which, during its 16-year history, enriched the lives of so many people and added so much to the culture of downtown New West.
It was a place where developing musicians, spoken word artists and comedians could have their very first experience performing in front of an audience simply by showing up on Monday night’s open mic. It was also a place where you could hear many of the Lower Mainland’s finest musicians, curated by the outstanding Richard Chapman, performing six nights a week in a room that was always welcoming to performers and guests.
The Heritage Grill hosted the weekly ukulele club led by the amazing Gord Smithers, where anyone could just walk in off the street never having played an instrument before, borrow a ukulele and songbook and be up and learning in an instant. In addition to these regular events, the Heritage Grill also was a gallery for local visual artists and hosted many events in its back room including The Philosopher’s Cafe, LGBTQ community events, performance art, songwriting showcases and comedy shows.
The Heritage Grill also was a partner in downtown events including the food truck festival, New West Pride and the show'n'shine. Owner Paul Minhas was and is a true champion of supporting local “street level and up” music and art as a means to bring people of all kinds of differing backgrounds together.
While I’m very grateful for all the amazing Heritage Grill moments I experienced as both performer and guest, I find it difficult to understand why there seems to be so little support from the current city council to help fill the void left by the Heritage Grill — a social space where artists could have the freedom to express themselves and present something that you might not have heard or seen before. It is support for this kind of venue that I feel is sorely missing from the New West local arts culture in 2023.
For now, those of us who treasured “The Grill” are left with great memories to share.
Jeff Neufeld
📢 SOUND OFF: Do you have fond memories of the Heritage Grill? What would you like to see done for New West's artists and musicians to help fill the void left by its departure? Share your thoughts — send us a letter.
