Historic downtown Chilliwack building restored, as new restaurant prepares to open

CHILLIWACK — CEPCO and the City of Chilliwack announced Wednesday that the restoration of the historic 96-year-old Skelton Building is now complete, paving the way for a new restaurant to open in downtown Chilliwack this month.

In a statement, the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation says it purchased the Skelton Building on Wellington Avenue roughly five years ago to help facilitate downtown revitalization efforts.

“Over the past 5 years, CEPCO has made painstaking efforts to preserve many of the historic features of the Skelton Building,” said Brian Coombes, CEPCO President. “Original features have been saved, such as a large skylight, exterior leaded glass, an exposed timber ceiling, and, of course, the inlaid Skelton’s floor tile.”

In August 1926, Robert G. Skelton and his son Clifford bought a wood-frame building on Wellington Avenue near Five Corners and opened a men’s clothing business called R.G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear. Tragically, less than four years later on March 15, 1930, a major fire on the north side of Wellington Avenue, between Young Road and Mill Street, destroyed six wood-frame buildings and multiple businesses, including R.G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear.

Image: City of Chilliwack / R.G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear.

After the fire, Robert Skelton announced that he would construct a new building which could withstand a similar fire, and in less than four months, it was completed. On Saturday, June 28, 1930, R.G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear opened its doors once again for business. The Skelton Building featured a deeply recessed entrance, which allowed for extensive window displays. Touches of the Art Deco design style were incorporated, with the name Skelton’s inlaid among the floor tiling close to the Wellington Avenue sidewalk. At the top of the building’s facade, the words “SKELTON BLDG 1930” were set in concrete. In 1961, two long-time Chilliwack residents, Gordon Wiltshire and Raymond Nelson, purchased the business, and in 1966, they also bought the Skelton Building and soon announced a name change to Gord-Ray Men’s Wear. Over the following years, Gord-Ray Men’s Wear expanded into buildings on either side of the Skelton Building.

As the years passed, however, CEPCO says these high-profile buildings on Wellington Avenue fell into disrepair. In 2021, CEPCO purchased them as a continuation of the revitalization efforts underway in downtown Chilliwack.

CEPCO says this essential restoration project has been supported by Station One Architects and Gerry Enns Contracting, along with many other trades professionals.

“The revitalization of downtown Chilliwack has long been a Council priority, and it has been great to see that dream take form over the last few years,” said Mayor Ken Popove. “Thank you to CEPCO for making this shared vision come to life, and for preserving the classic beauty of the Skelton Building.”

CEPCO and the City of Chilliwack say the new Skelton Alley will bolster economic benefits for businesses in the downtown core by increasing pedestrian connectivity between District 1881 and the shops on Wellington Avenue and Mill Street.

The city says the beautifully restored Skelton Building is now the home of Amato Trattoria, a place designed to create many more wonderful memories as the building approaches a century in downtown Chilliwack.

Image: Amato Trattoria.

“We believe our newest restaurant will be a positive addition to the revitalization efforts currently underway downtown,” stated Raffaele Aiello, president of Tiara Food & Beverage Concepts, and proprietor of Amato Trattoria. “We are excited to bring the timeless traditions of seasonal Italy to Chilliwack when Amato Trattoria opens to the public this month.”