VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 iconic Strathcona Hotel is going up for sale.

Owned by the Olson family for 79 years, it is hoped the six-storey property at 919 Douglas St., can be sold to a new operator.

Employees at the downtown venue were informed of the sale by letter, which noted B次元官网网址渟elling a business like the Strath can take years.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪hould we find a buyer we canB次元官网网址檛 imagine any major changes happening to the business for several years to come,B次元官网网址� said the letter from the Olson family.

A new owner will bring B次元官网网址渘ew energy and ideas to the business which can only be positive,B次元官网网址� said the family.

As well as the hotel, the building is home to a a liquor store and a number of entertainment venues including Sticky Wicket, Games Room, Clubhouse, Maple Room, Rooftop Patio and Big Bad JohnB次元官网网址檚.

Its live music venue Wicket Hall, previously known as the Forge, has played host to a number of unforgettable acts, including Seattle grunge band Nirvana in March 1991.

B次元官网网址淲e got lucky,B次元官网网址� said sales manager Joel Chudleigh . B次元官网网址淭he experience was amazing. There were about 80 to 100 people that saw them."

NirvanaB次元官网网址檚 multi-million selling hit 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and breakthrough album 'Nevermind' were released later that same year.

Several other musicians including Meat Loaf, Finger Eleven, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Eddie Money, also played at the venue before becoming famous.

Despite the recent news, itB次元官网网址檚 business as usual at the hotel; for the year ahead at least.

B次元官网网址淲e are continuing to make lots of improvements to the property and are planning a busy summer season,B次元官网网址� continues the letter to employees. B次元官网网址淲e are booking conference and concert events into the fall and Joel has already booked Christmas parties for November and December,B次元官网网址�

The property is listed on the CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Historic Places website, which says the building was constructed as the Empress Block in 1911, and was originally designed as an office tower.

B次元官网网址淭he fact that its function was changed to a hotel almost immediately after its construction reflects the shift that was steering Victoria towards a tourism based economy in the early twentieth century,B次元官网网址� says the site.