FOUR — MAYBE FIVE — BUSINESS CLOSINGS DEVASTATE ‘UPTOWN’ DOWNTOWN GRAVENHURST AS 2026 BEGINS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — It’s out with the old and in with at least one new.
With one pending….
Five Gravenhurst main street businesses in the central core are in a state of either moving or renovations as 2025 becomes 2026.
The new year sees the block between Sarah and Hotchkiss street about to see particular change — north next to the Opera House, which is celebrating 125 years in early March.
Footprints in Muskoka’s front window and inside are empty.
Black Bear Barber Shop next door is closing next month.
The Metatrons Garden beside it closes in two weeks, on Jan. 16, when Tanner Picard closes after eight years.
Further upstreet his wife Emily’s Fun Emporium toys store is also closing as the couple moves to St. John, New Brunswick, to reopen business.
It all started just before Christmas when Bei Bei and her son Sam closed Bethune Bistro after a health department inspection.
She said today they were informed of kitchen concerns that the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ordered rectified immediately.
Bei said the list of changes could be financially prohibitive for the family in the old building they have operated the restaurant since 2014.
January is typically a month when the family takes its winter holiday anyway.
So they are taking that time to consider options and whether to reopen.
She said they expect to make a decision in the coming weeks.
The closure Bei said offered them no temporary reprieve to meet the conditions came as a surprise to many local diners of the popular family-run business.
And came just as many Christmas customers found a red health unit sign on the door.
Then when those hungry for breakfast trotted a few more doors toward the post office, they found the Old Mill Restaurant closed for their winter holiday. They’re back open later this month.
Meanwhile, back at Footprints, apparently a new building owner has taken over.
It’s not clear whether the street storefront will be have a new business tenant any time soon.
The barber shop is relocating to Bracebridge Hall in February, said a salon employee.
Neighbour “Linda,” who runs the Nails R Us manicure and pedicure business, said she’s “staying put” after 16 years on Bay Street and Muskoka Road South.
It’s all a big change for the struggling “Updown” downtown, which has seen better days.
And is still suffering from a devastating fire more than a decade ago that has left significant dents in the street landscape.
Down street from the latest losses is the dilapidating Ing Building next to the Op, which adds to the deplorable state of the downtown.
And reader Rand Simpson reminds of the fall closing of Oliver’s Coffee. That building, too, has recently been sold. No word yet on a tenant.
It’s all leaving local shoppers depressed as key blocks are unwelcoming to outside commerce, prospective new residents and businesses looking to move in.
A couple of positives are the small new coffee shop Sugar & Spice that opened next to Chuck’s beer and steakhouse a block north of the post office at the Harvie Street intersection. And Essence of Spice across from the Op. Both welcome recent additions to the culinary community.
Though one business owner said 2025 was there best year.
After hitting near bottom, the new year can only get better for everyone — hopefully — they said.
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January 9, 2026 @ 3:19 pm
On our list we could add Oliver’s! I welcome your updates.
January 9, 2026 @ 3:21 pm
How soon we forget.
Thanks, will add.
Dont’t forget to renew your subscription, please, if you haven’t already.
Mark C.
January 11, 2026 @ 8:02 am
Bethune Bistro has been cited before and also this year. At this point, just sell and let someone else run the business who can maintain standards.
January 11, 2026 @ 12:01 pm
I don’t know what restaurant owners expect when they get a Notice from the Health Unit. You can’t tell me they are surprised with their lack of standards. They try to get away with it and finally it catches up to them. Other restaurant owners that do comply with standards have similar expenses. Maybe the restaurants that pass the Health Unit should be promoted Free by the town as an appreciation.
January 11, 2026 @ 4:49 pm
Town should buy the buildings. Open a youth centre for kids to be creative, perform, have club nights and hang out. 3 restaurants. 1 a Carribean/Jerk shop 2. A Schwarma shop 3. A hot dog shop. Use the space where buildings burned for people with permits to play live music. Put out chairs. Tax any house valued over 3 million an increased amount for every 100k over 1.5million. Tax any house listed as a secondary residence or cottage at an increased rate, a rate that combined with above specifically funds this project year over year, as well as pays a subsidie to existing small businesses.