Now a century old fixture in the community, the Poffenroth/de Waal Block isn’t exactly the most conspicuous of landmarks. Unlike it’s awkward sounding moniker, which stands out a bit like a sore thumb, the red brick building at the corner of Fourth Street and Meredith Road N.E. fits in like part of the natural landscape.

Constructed way back in 1910 in the newly annexed community of Bridgeland thanks to the efforts (and the dollars) of then owner Henry Poffenroth, the old Edwardian commercial block was originally at the heart of a community dominated by Calgary’s Russian and German population.

Purchased by Theodore de Waal in 1927, the building has served as a grocery store, a bookshop and a furniture store in the years that have passed. All these years later, the building is still in the de Waal family, with owner John’s de Waal Music still housed in the old brick building.

The building is also home to Il Sogno, the high-end Italian restaurant that specializes in bringing the flavours of the Campania region to the Alberta prairies. Opened in 2000, Il Sogno has taken advantage of the existing ambiance of the building in order to provide an historic setting.

Still boasting the original pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors, proprietor Patricia Koyich says as soon as she walked into the building, she knew it was the perfect place to set up shop.

“The room was gutted, and there was plaster everywhere and old radiators, but I just knew. It had so much character and the unfortunate thing about Canadian cities and old buildings is that we tend to knock them down rather than fix them up, so I knew we had to make this work.”

When discussing the ability to procure such an historic locale, Koyich points the efforts of owner John de Waal, whose $1-million investment allowed the building to appear as it does today.

Now largely returned to its original state, the building has given Koyich’s business a level of richness and authenticity she likely wouldn’t have had in a newer building.

“It adds everything,” says Koyich. “They just don’t make spaces that have fourteen foot ceilings and everything else it comes with these days. Today you’ll get a faux finish that looks older, but this is all natural and really well maintained. It’s classic and nostalgic at the same time.”

However, Koyich does admit there are some quirks that come with operating in such an old building.

“We had to upgrade all the plumbing and electrical, so that was one thing. They replaced the old boiler in the basement but it’s still down there. There are still all sorts of old magazine pictures on the walls. It’s like the catacombs; it’s cool and creepy at the same time.”

And with the building now celebrating its 100th anniversary, it would be tough to find a more historic place to enjoy a meal in.