Max Kotlowski offers $1M for Falls Restaurant

Max Kotlowski, a Saint John businessman, is making a last appeal to spare the old Reversing Falls Restaurant from demolition by offering $1 million for the property.

Kotlowski says he is hopeful the city will consider his proposal, even though it hasn't extended its Tuesday deadline for bids to demolish the building.

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Kotlowski says he is ready to write a cheque for $1 million to take over the building immediately.

"I have the money. I put a sell order in for some stocks I have," he said Tuesday onInformation Morning Saint John.

"The building needs to be saved. Without the Reversing Falls facility, the attraction is going to die. If the Falls dies it all dies."

The landmark building and tourism centre closed late last year.

This is our historic tourism spot. NiagaraFalls is Ontario's, we have the Reversing Falls. it's not the same but it's another destination.- Max Kotlowski, Saint John businessman

It is now set to be torn down as part of a proposed $36 million rebranding plan the city has for the location.

It would include a new lookout plaza, tidal clock and visitor information centre. However, earlier this month Mayor Mel Norton saidthat kind of spending is not in the works for the near future.

And there are no financialcommitmentsfrom the provincial and federalgovernmentstodate.

Kotlowski says he also has grand plans for the property.

"I want to make it a star," he said. "I would refinish the outside with new siding, super clean the interior top to bottom, I would replace the worn carpet, replace the door hinges, put new toilets in, I want to freshen it up."

Kotlowski says some councillors have been sympathetic to his bid and discussions have been underway.

Coun. Gerry Lowe read through the proposal, but says it's not a decision to be made on the spur of the moment.

One of the complications is the original deal with BoAz, the Korean restaurant next door, and the agreement that there be only one restaurant in the area, he said.

"I mean, I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I would say if everything worked out it would be an excellent idea," said Lowe.

"But there arecomplications to it."

Kotlowski says as long as the old restaurant is still standing, he won't give up on his dream of turning it into a world famous attraction.

"I've travelled to many countries around the world and I've seen the Taj Mahal, famous places, and even as a tourist I recognize this is where people want to come," he said.

"This is our historic tourism spot. Niagara Falls is Ontario's, we have the Reversing Falls.

"It's not the same, but it's another destination," he said.

The restaurant and tourist information centre was built on top of a foundation that anchored an earlier bridge on the sharp rock face at the Reversing Falls. The building was subsequently expanded andremodeled.

It sits across from the formersite of the historic T.S. Simms & Co. Limited paint brush factory, which was demolished last year. That landmark structure was built in 1912.