The History of The Richmond Centre Building in Downtown Amherstburg
In the heart of downtown Amherstburg stands a building with a story that reaches back more than 140 years. Today, it is known as The Richmond Centre, a modern commercial building home to professional offices, local businesses, and community activity. But long before its current name, the building was known by several others: The Brown House, The Amherst House, The Amherst Hotel, and later, to many locals, the London Pub.
Its history reflects the growth of Amherstburg itself — from a busy river town serving travellers and merchants, to a modern downtown destination with renewed investment and pride.
The Brown House Begins
One of the earliest records connected to the building comes from The Amherstburg Echo dated August 19, 1881, which referred to the project as the New Western Hotel, also known as The Brown House. According to that article, tenders were received by Ellis Brown for the construction of a new brick hotel on Richmond Street. The winning tender was submitted by Ellis Brown’s son, Alex Ellis, for $2,973, slightly under another tender of $2,994.
The proposed building was described as a three-storey brick hotel measuring approximately 24 by 45 feet, with a galvanized iron cornice and caps. The article noted that the original bar room, about 24 feet along Richmond Street and extending back 45 feet, would remain temporarily until construction progressed. The plans included an office, a bar room, a sitting room, a baggage room, parlour space, bedrooms, and a third storey dedicated to additional bedrooms. The article expected the work to be completed that fall.
This makes 1881 one of the most important documented dates in the building’s history.
Ellis Brown and the Early Hotel Era
Ellis Brown was a well-known Amherstburg resident. His 1886 obituary, originally from The Amherstburg Echo, stated that he came to Amherstburg as a young man and later built what was then known as the Brown House on the site of an older hotel building. The obituary described Brown as an upright and respected member of the community, noting that he successfully conducted the hotel for many years.
A later retrospective article, dated around 1934, stated that the Amherst Hotel had been built “sixty years ago” and was long known as The Brown House, named after its builder, Ellis Brown. Because that 1934 article is retrospective and uses a rounded phrase, it appears to place the building’s origins around the 1870s. However, the more specific 1881 article provides a clear contemporary record of tenders and construction work for the brick hotel. Together, these sources suggest that the hotel’s story began with earlier hotel activity on the site, followed by major construction or rebuilding under Ellis Brown in the early 1880s.
From Brown House to Amherst House
Over the years, the building evolved along with the town. A clipping from 1901 notes that extensive changes were being made to the Brown House, including moving the bar room to the rear of the building and creating a new storefront-style look, with large plate-glass windows and a new entrance.
By 1918, the building was being referred to as the Amherst House. A November 1, 1918 article noted that alterations were underway to convert the Amherst House into a modern fruit store for Tony Charles. The renovations included large plate-glass windows, shelving, counters, and other interior improvements.
These records show that the building was not static. It adapted to changing business needs in downtown Amherstburg, shifting between hotel, hospitality, retail, and commercial uses over time.
A Landmark Hotel in Downtown Amherstburg
By the 1920s and 1930s, the building was again strongly associated with hospitality. A March 19, 1926 clipping noted that Charles Fleming, of the River View Inn, had purchased the Amherst House and planned to announce its opening the following week. Another clipping dated July 16, 1926 stated that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fleming had moved into the Amherst House, which had recently been overhauled before opening for business.
A later newspaper feature announced the grand opening of the New Amherst Hotel, describing improvements made by Charles Fleming and highlighting a special opening dinner of whole fried chicken for seventy-five cents. The article presented the hotel as a revitalized downtown business and praised the Flemings for investing in the property.
Another clipping, dated 1932, described decorative improvements to the Amherst House and referred to it as a beautiful example of mural decoration. It praised hand-painted walls, ornamentation, and new dining room features, showing that the hotel was not only functional but also a point of local pride.
The Amherst Hotel Name
A 1934 article titled “The Amherst Hotel Was Built in Town Sixty Years Ago” records that the building had originally been privately named The Brown House, but later became known as The Amherst Hotel. The article explains that once the travelling public began coming to the hotel from both the Canada Southern Railway and the Michigan Central station, proprietor George Holmes changed the name from Brown House to Amherst Hotel to better promote it to visitors.
The same article lists several proprietors and managers connected to the hotel over the years, including George Holmes, W.R. Pizer, Wm. T. Ginn, Eugene Jolly, W.J. Alexander, George Holmes again, and J.V. Brooker. It also noted that Charles W. Fleming had brought the hotel back up to a high standard of service.
This period helped establish the building as one of Amherstburg’s familiar downtown landmarks.
Later Years: The London Pub Era
Photographs included in the historical material show the building in later years as the Amherst Hotel, including a circa 1940 image with prominent signage on the front façade. Another later photo shows the building operating as the London Pub, a name many residents may still remember.
These images capture the building’s continued presence on Richmond Street through the 20th century, even as its appearance and uses changed.
A New Chapter: The Richmond Centre
In 2015, the building entered a new chapter when local realtor Dan Gemus purchased the former Amherst Hotel building at 61 Richmond Street. A September 2, 2015 River Town Times article reported that the building had previously housed the Liberal campaign office and, before that, a restaurant formerly occupied by Kitirolk’s.
The article also explained Gemus’s vision for the property: to renovate the building into a combination of commercial, office, restaurant, and community-focused uses. At that time, plans included office space for his real estate team and room for restaurant or commercial tenants. Gemus also expressed pride in owning one of Amherstburg’s historic buildings and said he wanted to make it a showpiece in the downtown core.
A November 11, 2015 River Town Times article reported that renovations were progressing smoothly. It described ongoing work throughout the building, including repairs, plumbing, new windows, and improvements to the building’s commercial and office spaces.
That renovation work laid the foundation for the building’s modern identity as The Richmond Centre.
Preserving the Past While Building the Future
The Richmond Centre is more than a commercial building. It is part of Amherstburg’s downtown story.
From Ellis Brown’s 19th-century hotel to the Amherst House, Amherst Hotel, London Pub, and now The Richmond Centre, the building has continually adapted to serve the needs of the community. It has welcomed travellers, diners, business owners, professionals, and visitors for generations.
Today, The Richmond Centre continues that tradition by offering renewed commercial and office space in one of Amherstburg’s most recognizable historic buildings. Its restoration and reuse reflect the best kind of downtown revitalization: respecting the past while creating new opportunities for the future.
The building’s name may have changed many times, but its role as a downtown gathering place has remained constant. The Richmond Centre stands as a reminder that Amherstburg’s history is not only preserved in museums and archives — it lives on in the buildings we continue to use, restore, and celebrate.
