Calgary’s iconic Ranchman’s sold to new ownership group

CALGARY – A Calgary landmark looks like it has just received a new life.

Ranchman’s, the legendary Macleod Trail Honky-Tonk, has found a new group of owners who are said to already own significant properties in Calgary.

The owner group has asked to remain anonymous for the time being, but the next goal is to find a suitable tenant interested in restarting the nightclub and returning Ranchman’s to its former glory.

Ranchman’s was closed and leased at the beginning of the pandemic until it was seized by the bank and ended up being the city’s hotspot for rodeo riders and fans alike for nearly 50 years.

“It was a great fit for them, it was a great fit for us, and now all we have to do is find a tenant who wants to move back in and open,” Remax Central realtor Rob Campbell told CTV News.

Campbell acknowledged that the continuation of the Ranchman honky tonk practices would be left to whoever adopted them.

“It’s a business,” he said, “so if someone wants to come in and do something completely different, that’s up to them.

“But when you look at the building, which has 47 years of history, I think it would be crazy to do something different in it.

“We don’t have a proper country bar in town anymore,” he said and went on. “So it just makes sense to take advantage of this story. It might need a little facelift inside, but if you can find a business model that pays tribute to that story, I think it will give you a big head start when you reopen.” after the pandemic. “