The storied history of the King Edward Hotel in Calgary
Opened in 1905, the King Edward Hotel, better known as the King Eddy, has been a cornerstone in Calgary’s history for many decades.
The King Edward Hotel was built on 9th Ave SE, and served as an important part of Calgary’s legendary “Whiskey Row,” a stretch of hotels and bars along the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was a very popular establishment for travellers, thanks to the train station nearby and locals who worked and lived in the area.
When Alberta entered the prohibition era from 1916 to 1924, the King Edward Hotel was well known for bootlegging. After the prohibition, it continued to run as a reputable establishment, and under the management of Homer Meeks, the bar became the first desegregated bar in Calgary.
Music has always been at the heart of the King Edward Hotel. In the 1980s, it became known as the “Home of the Blues,” attracting legendary blues artists such as B.B. King, John Hammond, Pinetop Perkins, and Otis Rush. Big artists like Brian Adams and Sheryl Crow also made appearances at the bar.
Brester Irina/Shutterstock
In 2004, after nearly an entire century in business, the hotel fell into disrepair and was condemned due to unsanitary conditions and mould. At the time, it was Calgary’s second-oldest hotel, and the longest-running hotel and bar in the city.
In 2008, it was acquired by the National Music Centre (NMC) and in 2013, the building was dismantled brick by brick, with each being numbered and catalogued for rebuilding. The King Eddy was rebuilt and restored to its former 1905 glory and reopened its doors in 2018 as a restaurant, bar, and music venue.
The original neon sign and front step were even preserved, tying the bar to its storied past while giving new generations of Canadians a chance to experience its iconic atmosphere.