When ‘I love this bar’ is more than just a hashtag

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — When the lights go out at Leamington’s International Hotel on March 31, the end of a long era in Leamington’s social and entertainment history will be reached.

The I.T., as it’s known by most, is closing its doors, with new owners set to take over April 1. Plans for the future are unknown but it’s rumoured that it will be reinvented as something different from its current version.

And what it has been, is a place to call home for many of the area’s more social families.

Originally a sawmill, the building at the corner of Mill Street and Erie Street South burned down in 1866 and was rebuilt as a stable and harness shop before new construction of the Leamington Hotel, which opened May 1, 1924. Later that year, the name was changed to the International Hotel.

In its early days, the building also housed the first Greyhound bus stop in Leamington, where it was regaled as an elegant place with long flowing curtains and fine meals.

Over the war years, the hotel took on the nickname ‘Bucket of Blood’ due to many fights breaking out on a regular basis among customers.

Locals affectionately called it the ‘Bucket’, but it was always a popular night spot in Leamington.

In 1976, Joe and Terry Berthelot moved to town and purchased the hotel, which brought the hotel out of its ‘Bucket’ days and ushered in a newfamily-like atmosphere that patrons still enjoy today.

“It’s like Cheers but only a little more hardcore,” says employee Vicki VanEvery, who’s been at the I.T. for about 18 years. “We’re all like family here.”

Noel Berthelot was a big part of his parents’ management of the hotel, and upon Joe’s death in 2007, he took over the reins.

The I.T. staff pose for a photo with the old ‘Ladies and Escorts’ sign from days gone by. Standing from left are Edmund Medeiros, Vicky Moody, Sara Jackson, John Biekx and Nelson Morin. Seated from left are Sally Hamilton, Vicki VanEvery and Kalee Wright.

SUN photo

Noel ran the hotel for about 10 years until his sudden death in 2017.

Noel’s loss left the I.T. family reeling, but they soldiered on, making sure his vision was carried on in his absence. Noel’s wife Kim then took over until her death a year ago.

Kalee Wright, who’s been an employee and manager at the I.T. for the past 14 years, is sorry to see it close. She’ll miss the employees and the regulars.

“There are so many stories,” she says. “But most aren’t printable in the newspaper.”

The I.T. is known for its great live music on weekends and the welcoming atmosphere they provide to anyone who comes in off the street, but it’s some of their more charitable endeavours that the staff is most proud of.

The annual Kids Christmas event has been going on for over 30 years. Santa (Nick Wilhelm) and Mrs. Claus (Julie Kennedy) brought joy to hundreds of children over the years, and some of those kids are now grown up and working at the hotel.

“I remember coming to the Kids Christmas when I was a kid,” says Vicki VanEvery. “Now my kids and grandkids are coming to it.”

The I.T. also runs a soup cook-off and various other social events like meat draws and 50-50 raffles to bring in customers and entertain the regulars.

And there are plenty of regulars.

“They really stepped up during the pandemic,” says Kalee Wright. “A lot of the regulars came in no matter what, following whatever rules were in place.”

The love for the regular customers and welcoming nature of the staff really shines through when you sit at the I.T. bar and watch them go about their business.

It wasn’t that many years ago that there was a women’s side and a men’s side at the hotel — as there was at many such establishments, and the staff at the I.T. still have the sign that points to the Ladies Entrance.

Vicki VanEvery talks about the ghost with the top hat who patrols the basement.

“A lot of us have seen him or experienced his presence,” she says.

Although Kalee hasn’t met the ghost, she spoke about the filled-in bootlegger tunnels under the street that they believe connected the International to the Auto Stop (V.I.) at one point in time.

Lorree (Parker) Pursel, whose grandparents — Lorne and Mary Stickles — were involved in the International Hotel back in the 1920s and ’30s, recalls her mother talking about hanging around the hotel as a child.

The iconic International corner door as it looked after renovations a couple of years ago.

“My mom remembered long navy velvet drapes that were very elegant,” she said. “It was a place that people came for a good meal.”

Lorree said her mother, Dorothy Parker, often spoke about the men’s and ladies lounges and had many stories about the International in its heyday.

“She often commented that we should record those stories, but we didn’t,” she said.

She also talked about her mom’s memories of waiting tables in the dining room at the International and the fun that was had by all who worked there in those days.

“It was a lovely place to go for dinner,” she added.

The bar’s emergence from the pandemic during its last month will be a welcomed change for the staff.

“Being able to open it up fully before we close is awesome,” says Wright. “To have an act like Jody Raffoul here and not be able to have 200 people really sucked.”

While the pandemic has affected all businesses, Kalee Wright says it has no bearing on the closing of the business and sale of the building.

“We were lucky in that we had no mortgage to take care of,” she says. “Our customers, who are like our family, just kept coming to support us.”

Raffoul will be on stage on Saturday, March 5 to a packed house as the I.T. winds down its entertainment lineup for the final time.

On March 12, South River Slim will take the stage,followed by Locked Down on St. Patrick’s Day. The Ride will take the stage on Saturday, March 19.

On their last day of entertainment — Saturday, March 26 — there will be a full day of live music beginning in the afternoon, with acts still to be announced.

Kalee Wright is looking forward to that final party, but also has mixed emotions as the bar will close March 31.

There’s an indication that the new owners may take on some — or all — of the current staff, but nothing is etched in stone.

Time will tell if it reinvents itself as the “new” I.T. or something completely different, but one thing is for sure — the month of March will be one heck of a party.