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Coliseum Steaks and Pizza has been in Edmonton since 1976, around the corner from its namesake arena. Since I’d never been I was curious to try it, but also a bit nervous about how the place was faring since the Oilers’ move to downtown’s fancy new Rogers Place.

As we drove by the quiet arena along 118 Avenue last Friday night, past the shuttered Fireside Grill (closed last month after 43 years), my friends wondered aloud if we should have made a reservation. “Probably no need,” I said.

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Then we saw it – the good-sized parking lot so jammed full of cars, we got the last available spot. At the door, there was a brief wait while staff found us one of the few vacant tables in the 160-seat restaurant.

Apparently, Coliseum Steaks and Pizza is an institution unto itself, with or without the Oilers.

We quickly saw why. Unlike Northlands management, who have proposed their “Vision 2020” to rejuvenate the former arena and its grounds, this Coliseum’s owners are from the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” school of management.