The Albion Building Listed for Lease on 8 Months After Reopening

The Albion building at 49 Norfolk Street has been listed for lease, roughly eight months after its latest reopening in March. The main and second floors appeared on Realtor.ca on Friday.

The property is owned by local entrepreneur Thomas Gofton, who purchased the building in 2020. Although Gofton oversaw the most recent relaunch, he confirmed he will not continue operating the business and will instead act solely as the landlord. He said his limited time in Guelph made it difficult to maintain the day-to-day involvement needed to guide the venue’s direction.

The building had previously been offered for lease in 2022. In March of this year, Gofton and business manager Aaron Soch reopened the space as a bar and restaurant on the main floor, with the second floor functioning as an entertainment venue for events such as open mic nights, comedy shows, and live music.

Gofton emphasized that while the public continues to refer to the site as The Albion because of the exterior signage, the business itself operates under a different legal name. He said the branding often led to confusion, but the historical sign remained in place.

When asked what type of tenant he hopes will take over, Gofton said he is open to any business model as long as the lease obligations are met. He noted that he would prefer to see something aligned with the building’s recent use, but added that prospective operators are free to pursue their own ideas.

According to Gofton, interest in the space has been strong since the listing went live.

The Roundtable, his other Guelph venture, will continue to operate. Gofton said that business is largely self-managing, allowing him to focus on online gaming streams and work in the entertainment field. By contrast, he acknowledged that running a restaurant is not his area of expertise, and maintaining The Albion at the same level of oversight wasn’t feasible for him.

Before reopening this year, the building underwent renovations intended to restore and modernize the interior. Gofton said the goal was to stabilize the property, update its condition, and secure its heritage status, which has since been achieved.

He expressed hope that the next operator will create a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive space for the Guelph community.