Construction on Vittoria Trattoria in ByWard Market begins after years of delays

The remains of Vittoria Trattoria on William Street in Ottawa's ByWard Market, as it is seen on Aug. 22, 2023. The restaurant was destroyed by fire April 12, 2019. (Ted Raymond/CTV News Ottawa)

The owner of Vittoria Trattoria says he is ready to begin rebuilding this summer over six years after a devastating fire gutted the historic building in the ByWard Market.

Owner Domenic Santaguida told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron Tuesday that he’s excited to break ground on the popular Italian restaurant after years of construction delays related to the pandemic and economic uncertainty.

“Since the pandemic and all the trade stuff going on with steel… we’ve just been planning and waiting and saving our pennies to put everything back together,” he said.

A massive fire on April 12, 2019 destroyed the William Street restaurant and other nearby businesses on York Street, causing more than $2 million in damage. The fire was deemed accidental.

Since then, only the restaurant’s exterior façade and sign has remained with little noticeable progress on rebuilding.

Interest rates and red tape, including about $600,000 of development fees, has hindered much of the progress on the construction, Santaguida says.

With the permits now approved, work has already started on the restaurant’s plumbing and water lines.

Despite the setbacks, Santaguida says never wanted to quit on the ByWard Market.

“We have another restaurant in the south end, but its not in my nature to give up,” he said.

“I’m still very bullish on the ByWard Market. I think people need to come back and give the market another chance.”

The new property will include a larger space than before, including a new restaurant, a leasable space in the basement and a 14-unit “boutique hotel” with short-term rentals upstairs and a terrace on the roof.

“We’re hoping to bring something that will bring a spark back to the market and something that we’ll be talking about for the next 100 years” he said.

He hopes to have the restaurant open by the spring or summer of 2026 and for it to coincide with the redevelopment of the the ByWard Market, which will eventually make William Street a pedestrian-only zone.

“We’re looking forward to being a contribution to the market, preserving the old and bringing in something new,” he said.

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