Boutique hotel expected to open in downtown Windsor in the spring of 2026
By Rob Hindi
A new boutique style hotel is slated to open in downtown Windsor in the spring of 2026.
As AM800 news reported Thursday morning, the owner of Chatham's Retro Suites and RM Auto Restoration, Rob Myers is taking over the Paul Martin Building on Ouellette Avenue and transforming it into a hotel.
The $30-million investment will include 80 to 100 suites, a restaurant, cafe, and possibly a gym and a library lounge.
Myers says the building is grand and phenomenal.
"We think it will be one of the most unique hotel properties in the country, no question about it with the things that we want to do with this," says Myers. "We're very excited."
He says he has dealt with restoring buildings.
"We're going to open a property that's very very unique and I think it will be something the entire city will be proud of when we're finished," says Myers.
Myers daughter Jessica will manage the property.
She says every room will be completely unique.
"That's part of our passion so we're art driven, focus on uniqueness, creatively," she says. "There won't be a specific theme but we will combine historic elements with modern design and art.
She adds the plan is to keep as much as the historical elements of the building as possible.
"Adding in your neon signs, your crazy modern art but definitely keeping the historical elements of the building," she says.
The Chatham hotel has been open for 15-years and employees about 100 workers during its peak season.
The Windsor hotel is expected to employee 150 people.
Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens says the city is transferring the building to the Myers for $1 and adds the city received a few expressions of interest for the property but none were for housing.
The city purchased the building for $1 from the federal government several years ago.
In 2016, the federal government spent $3-million to fix the facade of the building.
According to Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island CEO Gordon Orr, there are currently 1,800 hotel rooms located in the downtown core.
When the new hotel opens, there will be eight hotels in the core with roughly 1,900 rooms.