The original Commodore Cabaret was built in 1929 by George Conrad Reifel at the urging of his wife Alma, who felt the city needed somewhere else to go besides the increasingly crowded ballroom of Hotel Vancouver (located at that time at the corner of Georgia and Granville Streets). the site chosen was the Granville Street location of the Commodore Cafe that since 1924 had been the home to a small main floor restaurant with booths and a gramophone. By comparison, Vancouverites couldn't have imaged what the Commodore would become. Modeled after British ballrooms of the 1920’s, the Commodore Cabaret was designed by Vancouver architect H.H. Gillingham. Gillingham died just after the plans for the Commodore were completed, which left his son, Bruce Gillingham to finish the project. The venue was -- and remains today -- an outstanding example of the Art Deco style popular at that time.