February 19, 2026

GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR GRAVENHURST’S STRUGGLING ‘MAIN STREET,’ AS ‘POSITIVE’ MEETING LAST NIGHT COULD SEE BIA COME BACK TO LIFE AND TRY TO HELP SAVE TOWN WITH EXPANDED AREA

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION

GRAVENHURST — There’s a spark of life yet in this old town after all.

With a glimmer of hope for Gravenhurst’s beleaguered“main street.”

Almost 40 hopeful community members and business persons turned out last night at the Opera House for a presentation and round-table discussion about the fate of five blocks of Muskoka Road, which have seen far better days.

But barely a handful of current BIA business and property owners were on hand.

This despite the host Chamber of Commerce’s best efforts in inviting them, sending out a survey — and issuing an urgent call to arms. Vice chair Eric Daly and councillor Penny Varney walked the street personally handing out invitations main street merchants.

Most people were enthusiastic, but were significantly representative from outside the boundaries.

A couple of businesses are worth mentioning.

One the new owners of the recently closed Footprints store next to the Opera House. However they asked to remain anonymous for now about their plans.

About 40 business people turned out last night at the Opera House to explore the future of Gravenhurst’s “main street” and a possible return of an expanded BIA. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

Well Fed all aboard Train Station?

The other was Phillip Jakel, who with his wife, Bella, own and have run the Well Fed Sandwich Shop on Hotchckiss Street for two years of this June.

He was excited to say they now have an MOU with the Town of Gravenhurst to move into the empty Train Station — pending a grant proposal by the town to install full kitchen and restaurant equipment.

He also told me they are expanding to Bracebridge hopefully in June to open a second Well Fed in the Fine Thymes Bistro and Bakery on Taylor Road just off Manitoba Street.

But they are staying in town after buying a house here last year.

Amy Taylor, the town’s economic development manager, said an announcement could come next month.

**Jessie Dursley, a former BIA board members, was “encouraged” by the meeting, calling it “informative” and “up and up” for the future of mid-town merchants.**

Wednesday’s in-house exercise could have benefited from outside invitations — and may yet — to offer wider public input.

Guest speaker and round table moderator Rachel Braithwaite, executive director of the Ontario BIA Association, “liked” what she heard.

She was in Gravenhurst for its Winter Carnival and said:

“What I saw as a visitor was a beautiful town and thriving main street.”

Prompting one to wonder if she was blind.

Chamber executive director Meghan Pratt said the survey showed 73 per cent of respondents like the idea of a BIA and 90 per cent support its expansion.

Varney and Erin Strength were the only council members representing the town at the meeting; along with Taylor, who said a consultant and study could result in a new BIA and maybe larger catchments area by spring 2027. And that a small steering committee of four to six is being proposed.

A sign-up sheet at the door had a few names at the end of the two-hour+ meeting.

Surprisingly — and maybe productively — there were no complaints or denigration of the ailing “Uptown, “downtown,” “main street” or whatever you want to call it now.

**Round table discussions let participants discuss and explore new options for revitalization. Everything was on the table.**

The mood was “positive” and upbeat, despite the reality and plight of a core business section where more than a dozen businesses have closed in recent times — and only Home Hardware, Chuck’s Roadhouse, Muskoka Turf and Sugar & Spice (coffee) have brought back life to what was once the commercial heart of the community.

Amid this retail crisis, which deserves at the least town task force, it was oddly yet thankfully left to the rival Chamber of Commerce business group to organize a meeting of stakeholders to consider a BIA revival that is currently one year into a three-year hiatus.

The majority of the more than three dozen business people present were neither past nor present BIA members. And most whose stock and trade is beyond its boundaries came out to support efforts at resuscitating the volunteer-driven organization.

And they mostly called for expansion north and south to include McDonald’s, Canadian Tire, Sobey’s and the LCBO plaza — as well as the Muskoka Wharf — in order to increase their reach.

Currently five blocks compose the BIA, seen here in read outline. A possible expansion could take in wider area including the westerly Muskoka Wharf and the south end of Muskoka Road including the McDonald’s and Sobey’s plazas.

All this after the former “burnt-out” BIA board was forced to give up management due to lack of volunteers to manage its miniscule $44,000 annual promotions and marketing budget.

There are 72 members in the inclusionary area that takes in not just the Muskoka Road, but businesses and properties inside the bounded streets of John and First streets. And which include Harvie, Brock, Hotchkiss and Sharpe streets.

Mandated fees governed and collected by the town are $285 per $100,000 of assessment.

A lot of that money the past year and before has been spent on purchasing and maintaining wrap-around lighting in winter, added Taylor.

Overall optimism remains with a few new faces in the small crow of eligible new volunteers.

Jessie Dursley, who owns the Relish Kitchen and Market with her mom and who has served on the board, said today she was “encouraged” by the meeting.

“It’s been a challenge, but it was great to see. I learned a lot I didn’t know. It’s on the up and up.”

She’s glad to see “changes” particularly if they involve management and operation of the organization. She said that was weak previously.

**Judy Terry, left, worker Laura Meikle and councillor Erin Strength were all positively in favour of a BIA expansion – but with some important reservations on a few key points of concern.**

Judy Terry, a mainstay president of the board for many years, was also “positive, though expressing some concerns she’s still not sure about.

“I’ve seen ebbs and flows,” “but it’s doable.

“Everything they said about running a successful BIA we’ve done like ‘Shop Local,’ BIA Dollars, events and beautification.”

She’d like to see a “gap analyst” and “look at other towns and what works for them.”

Terry, too, was happy to see so many people from outside the BIA offering to help.

Some were from the Wharf business group and Gull Lake Rotary Park including a man who ran a canoe rental business.

Many of those said “whatever helps the BIA helps the whole town.”

Terry said one of the businesses recently closed, Knapp’s Furniture, was due to retirement and a couple of other owners are moving East.

“So it’s not all bad.”

She just hopes the municipal wheels move “quicker” than more than a year away.

Sooner than better, she said, while adding there is a need for more businesses to join the BIA from across the town.

Whatever the cost: “$600 or $1,000 — BIA dues are worth the investment,” she said.

**Rachel Braithwaite, OBIAA executive director, was in town for the Winter Carnival. “What I saw as a visitor was a beautiful town and thriving main street.”**

Braithwaite said business improvement areas do work well in marketing, self-promotion and co-operation, noting they began with Bloor West Village in Toronto in the 1970s. And now there are 300 of them in Ontario and 500 Canada-wide — with 85 alone in Toronto where the hope is to expand to 125.

She encouraged more new theme events such as more inclusive ones that reflect changing demographics and new communities who often don’t see or feel that BIAs reflect them.

And winter fests and such draw tourists as well as local participants.

Social media presence online is something else all businesses should focus more on, Braithwaite emphasized. Many businesses don’t have good websites or don’t maintain them. Or don’t communicate and advertise their sales, services and goods locally.

Business owners too often spend more time personally surfing than updating their sites.

Signage and way-finding signage is a further under resourced and missed opportunity within towns, business areas and along highways.

The province, she said, too often thinks of the North as “mines and lakes,” rather than small community businesses, which have so much to offer provincial and national economies.

The same, she said, applies locally adding that Muskoka Lakes aren’t the only thing Gravenhurst has to offer.

“There needs to be more pride in businesses.”

**Many participant who are and aren’t BIA members said anything that’s good for it is good for Gravenhurst.**

BIA expansion needs approval

Braithwaite and Taylor pointed out that any expansion would have to be approved by those business and property owners impacted by a margin of 2/3. If the 1/3 don’t respond by voting they are considered to be in favour.

And that if approved expansion would only affect and apply to building spaces used for business purposes and not the entire property.

As well, they said property owners and businesses alone can both in some cases be members for voting purposes.

BIA fees can also be included in rental fees.

Ideally, Braithwaite said, 150 members would allow for some kind of staff person, which the Gravenhurst BIA has had part-time at times in the past.

While Terry and others on hand approve expansion.

The questions remains: Is it good business 101?

If your business is failing, do you expand your floor space square foot and hope more customers will find you — or manage more efficiently what you’ve got?

While Jakel said some of his customers take a dim view of Gravenhurst’s business future and dying town, Braithwaite summed up saying any new BIA needs to embrace and promote the concept, idea and vision of “I need to stay in love with downtown — or fall in love with downtown.

“Flip the perception toward an ounce of positivity.”

Last night that was the case.