© 2020, 2025, Christian Cassidy. Please respect my research.
Winnipeg Tribune, December 15, 1943
Percy Haynes had a remarkable life and added much to the fabric of Winnipeg's history. He was a championship athlete, a noted local musician and fought to be the first Black to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy.
In 1952, he and his wife Zena opened Haynes Chicken Shack at 257 Lulu Street, which became a popular musical hot spot. The likes of Billy Daniels, Oscar Peterson and Harry Belafonte visited, some multiple times, for late night jam sessions.
The Haynes were cornerstones in the local Black community, and this building was a focus for many of their activities. (You can read more about Haynes and the restaurant them in the links below.)
257 Lulu Street in 2021
Zena died in 1990 and Percy in 1992. The business was then sold to long-time employees who ran it until 1998.
The house has been boarded up since around 2010, and the separate building at the back appears to have been used for storage for a couple more years.
This month, the land was advertised for sale with the note that the "building on site needs to be torn down". It's unclear if that is a city requirement or the opinion of the owner.
We have done a poor job of telling the stories of the everyday places and people that built our city, especially those who resided in poorer neighborhoods, including people of colour.
It appears that it is too late to save 257 Lulu Street, but there are many buildings out there with rich tales to tell, including the Craig Block, another Black community hub which sits unrecognized on Main Street.
These buildings deserve better recognition and a better fate.
UPDATE 2025:
It is unclear if the house sold in 2020, as it is still standing as of the end of 2025.
The June 2024 Google Street View image of the property shows a for sale sign out front. In July 2025 it was put up for auction with an outstanding property tax bill of over $18,000.
It is unclear who the current owner is and what their plans are for the property.
My writings about Haynes and 257 Lulu Street:
Percy Haynes West End Dumplings
257 Lulu Street Winnipeg Downtown Places
Recipe for Success Winnipeg Free Press
Farewell to 257 Lulu Street West End Dumplings
More of my stories celebrating Manitoba's Black history
The house has been boarded up since around 2010, and the separate building at the back appears to have been used for storage for a couple more years.
This month, the land was advertised for sale with the note that the "building on site needs to be torn down". It's unclear if that is a city requirement or the opinion of the owner.
November 7, 1952, Winnipeg Free Press
I
have always been critical of heritage advocates and the city for putting an inordinate amount of time and money
into telling the history of a small number of buildings in a small
number of neighbourhoods over and over again, whilst ignoring those in large sections of the city. This building is a
perfect example.
Over the past decade, I have written a number of
columns and blog posts about the city's Black community, and I think I can safely say that this was one of that community's more important cultural hubs. Sadly, it is outside the "zone of interest" for heritage advocates and its history was never documented. If this had been done decades ago, it might have prevented the building from being in the condition it is in today.
257 Lulu Street in 2017
We have done a poor job of telling the stories of the everyday places and people that built our city, especially those who resided in poorer neighborhoods, including people of colour.
It appears that it is too late to save 257 Lulu Street, but there are many buildings out there with rich tales to tell, including the Craig Block, another Black community hub which sits unrecognized on Main Street.
These buildings deserve better recognition and a better fate.
UPDATE 2025:
July 8, 2025, Winnipeg Free Press
It is unclear if the house sold in 2020, as it is still standing as of the end of 2025.
The June 2024 Google Street View image of the property shows a for sale sign out front. In July 2025 it was put up for auction with an outstanding property tax bill of over $18,000.
It is unclear who the current owner is and what their plans are for the property.
My writings about Haynes and 257 Lulu Street:
Percy Haynes West End Dumplings
257 Lulu Street Winnipeg Downtown Places
Recipe for Success Winnipeg Free Press
Farewell to 257 Lulu Street West End Dumplings
More of my stories celebrating Manitoba's Black history
6 comments:
Growing up in Wpg in the 60's & 70's, jazz and supper at Hayne's Chicken Shack was a weekly event for our family. Percy & Zena were incredibly generous and wonderful to be around. Thank you for your blog post. It brings back so many fond memories of Wpg and especially good times spent at Hayne's Chicken Shack.
I agree that it is a sad commentary that a nondescript - but historically priceless - residence on Lulu Street should be overlooked by heritage advocates, groups and city officials. The history contained within those walls is unique and invaluable.
Kerr Kyle ~ Vancouver
Thanks for your comment, kerr !
Thaanks for a great read
Thank-you for sharing this history.
Stan Johnston.
This is so cool. Beautiful history. Great story. Thank you. :)
Thank you for this article. We wonder what is going to happen to it next. There is a For Sale sign currently.
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