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Story and Photos by Terry James In March 1975, the IGW Record referred to the tenants of 47-49 King Street Waterloo as being undesirable. Mrs. Alice B. Prima said they were disgusting and their home was the worst shamble in the history of Waterloo." At a city council meeting, Mayor Herb Epp said they simply had to go. "Pigeons!" Mrs. Prima said. "You wouldn't have believed it if you had seen the sight. We simply couldn't get rid of them., They were having their young on the second floor of this building and all our hammering-and banging couldn't even scare them off. " Mr. and Mrs. Pthma bought the King St. building which originally housed Henderson's Bakery with hopes of using it for their boutique, the Ali B. Sceene II. If there was any room left over, they planned to put in one or two more stores. The building had been gutted by fire in 1973 and left vacant. Theequipment used when it was a bakery was still intact. - "'For one thing there was no other building available in Waterloo and we had no idea of the size or condition of this one," she said. Why did the Primas choose to buy this particular building and r.,enovate it? According to Mrs. Prima it was not because they'wanted the challenge. 77 h H _ Mrs. Prima remembers her surprise when she was told by her husband that the building could house three stores and a large night club. “I couldn't believe it until I saw the place myself. ., After " months of work and renovations valued at $240,000 the lower floor of the building now houses the Yellow Sub- marine and Fonzie's Fun House. After August the Ali B Sceene ll boutique will also be there. The upstairs floor has been made into a large night club and the total value of the building is now estimated at $300,000. _ "For a couple of months he was living on three to four hours sleep a night," said His wife. While she was discussing the building, the problems they encountered and thearhanges that had to be made, Mrs. Prima kept referring to the condition of the building when they first purchased it. To the Primas the completion of the building is still an unbelievable accomplishment that they Mr. Prima? who was himself a general contractor. did a lot of the renovations. l What is the loneliest night of the week for a single person? According to Mrs, Alice Prlma of Waterloo. ics Saturday night. "You can always find something to do on any other night of the week." said Mrs. Prima, "but on Saturday night you sit down and find yourself Happy smiles are an indication of the good times that ate enjoyed at the Friday evening Friendship Clue. From left to right, Gordon Crossley, a guest. is welcomed by Hilda Owen. secretary. John Wastell. prest- dent and Alice Prima, founder of the club. . Pigeons' home transformed into night club Prima prpirtt All dais controversy was not over one or two tenants. but Mrs. Prima finds home for singles' clubs all alone Mrs. Prima has experi- enced these Saturday night blues herself. Be- fore she met her present husband. she had been left a widow after a happy marriage of 26 years. The thought of going into a hotel every Saturday eve- ning did not really appeal to her and she could not Today BT-d19 King Street North in Waterloo houses three stores and a night club after a $240,000 face lift. " was once the home for thousands of pigeons. “It was so filthy in here that when my son was pulling it down he was afraid of getting a disease. He contacted his doctor and was told to keep the windows wide open while he was working and to go to the office immediately if he' cut himself," she said. _ are both proud of. Mrs. Prima has a flair for designing. The building was her own creation. “I did all the architecture." she said. “I designed the roof, ceiling and fire place and decided on all the colour schemes. I had one or two fights with my husband and the other contractors about the way things should look but I got my own way and now they are glad I did. " think of too many other places a widow could go. It was then that she de- cided to do something abouUt. Today she is known as the founder of the Friend- ship Club. which meets every Friday night. and the Saturday Night Club Both groups meet in her recently-opened nightclub on the upper floor of 47-49 King Street In Wa- terloo. The two clubs have one common characteristic which sets them apart from any \other clubs m the K-W area. All mem- bers must be single either through divorce. legal separation or widowhood, Married people are Thinking up a name for the night club posed no problems for her . "We called it the Pigeon Farm. Is it any wonder?" The night club, with its carpeted floor. dining facilities' and bar, still has one thing missing according to its owner. As you _start to laugh at the thought of a stuffed pigeon, she checks you. ” "Well it would be quite appropriate don't you think?" Any resident of Waterloo who was familiar with the build- ing several years ago would probably have to agree. "I want a stuffed pigeon." said Mrs. Prima with a laugh. "I can find stuffed dogs. cats, and bears but nowhere have I found a pigeon. ' Mr and Mrs Prime on joy the social life they have received through their any satiation With bath clubs and they dont Inland to give it up for many years tocome Receivmg the cards makes Mrs. Prima very happy and she enjoys greet- Ing her guests and watch- mg them have a good tlme "They seem to have so much fun," she said “You should watch them when they do their ball room dancing It IS all so beami- ful I think older people know more about having fun than the younger pew ple todav ,. The clubs are not new The Saturday Night Club began SIX years ago with only two members. At present there are 317 members The Friendship Club has been meeting off and on for two years allowed at the Friendship Club only if they come with a member." said Mrs. Prima. "No single people are allowed at the Saturday Night Club and the members must be past their 39th birthday. " Before becoming a mem- her. a person attends the club as a guest untu It IS certain that they are un- attached Thev are asked “The Saturday Night Club is the only club at its kind m the world." said Mrs. Prima. “All the profits go back to the members In the form of dinners. trips to places like Buffalo or the science centre and to benefits .. Watedoo Chronicle, Wednesday, July 7, 1976 _ Page 3 to fill out cards stating their name, address and place of employment. " we check up on them and find that they have given the wrong ad- dress, chances are they did so because they are married." said Mrs. Prima. "H they come back we ask them to leave and never return. __ Mrs, Prima said that some people attend the club for two or three months below they are found to bemarried Several marriages bv- tween group members take place every year It both parties have been members of good stand, mg they are allowed to stav In the club “Some night someone will walk through the door and spot someone who shouldrft be there. I don't run over to the person immediately and cause a scene. I want for awhile and then walk over casu- ally and ask to speak with them," said Mrs ana -Then I tell them they are no longer wel- come here" Mrs Prtma rrMXUV6'N' hundreds of cards of thanks She remembers one card In particular where a woman wrote. "When I open the door to the club. I feel like I've come home to my family '. . Many of" the couples sttll ' to feel they are a member of the club where they rrwt their spouse. she said