Muskoka Mead
NEW BUILDING EXPANSION & HONEY WINE/MEAD!!!!
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Update October 9, 2023 - it's taken so long to update everyone, but here's what's happened through July, August, and September. The electric door opener complications (see below) morphed into not only openers for the three bathrooms, but also three exterior entrance doors. Township, engineer, builder, electrician, installer, a failed final occupancy inspection with 12 deficiencies (coat hooks on back of bathroom doors being one of them!)...and $20,000 plus 6 weeks to finally resolve the barrier free requirements. There are no words to convey our dismay, anger and frustration... A second occupancy inspection was completed, and we FINALLY passed just before Labour Day Weekend. The month of September is the busiest for our other tourist business and we were not able to even start moving anything into our building until recently. We have had interest from several companies regarding our two lease units, but nothing signed yet. They are listed on MLS under Janine Scott ReMax Realty (https://www.remax.ca/commercial/on/dwight-real-estate/25754-35-highway-unit-1-wp_idm73000004-25871441-lst). As of Thanksgiving Weekend, we have begun to move in display units for our new retail store. Stay tuned on IG and FB for photos and updates! Our Farmers Market season is over, and we are preparing for Bala Cranberry Festival in a few days. We will be open in our new location for November for Christmas sales!
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July 3, 2023 - our building is so close to being finished. The HVAC and electric are complete, bathrooms dry walled (fixtures to be installed shortly), and water system running. We are still waiting for the propane tank to be delivered and hooked up. The township has thrown in another complication as they now want hard wired electric door openers installed in all three washrooms - after the doors have already been installed and dry wall complete. We're trying to find a solution that will be less than $5000, but this is yet another delay to our applying for occupancy. We thought that we had jumped through every possible hoop thrown at us but there you have it... Update on LEASE UNITS: they will be available for rent shortly (listing will be on MLS). If you are interested in leasing a large or small unit, contact us now, or lose it! There are no other commercial lease units for rent anywhere in our area!
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May 27, 2023 - Our new building is up, parking area shaped/graveled, interior walls complete, floors refinished, and bathroom/maintenance room framing walls installed. HVAC and final electric work begins next week! We continue to have challenges getting this project completed, the most recent is that we were just informed that HydroOne cannot connect our electricity until July 5th... That has now knocked back our occupancy permit application into mid-July. We never dreamt that this project would take years to complete. One day, we will tell the whole story of our experience...
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April 30, 2023 - In early February, our builder began the steel structure! If you follow us on Instagram/FaceBook, you will have seen our weekly posts on the build (hey...if you're not following us, what the heck?!). The steel siding is up, windows and doors installed, and the exterior and interior insulation is in. The final steel interior sheeting is almost complete. Barnhart Sand & Gravel has installed our septic system and begun the driveway build-up shaping. Our 2 new Lease Units are almost ready - a commercial real estate listing will be on MLS soon thanks to Janine Scott at Remax Dwight.
- January 20, 2023 - Our builder, Prestige Steel Buildings, was able to have our foundation/slab work completed just before Christmas, overcoming some unforeseen complications that resulted in additional delays. We have waited a month for construction to begin and have been told that it will start within the next 2 weeks! In the meantime, we were able to have a quick visit with Diane, award winning head meadmaker/owner of Honeygirl Meadery, and her meadmaker William, in Durham, North Carolina. We learned so much that we will be applying in our own mead journey to make unique honey wine blends for you! We continue to hunt for vintage and antique display units for our new retail store (now running out of places to store our awesome finds...).
- December 6, 2022 - Barnhart Sand & Gravel has prepared the build site and formed the base stonework. Prestige Steel Buildings has formed the foundation, is in the process of installing the rebar grid, and is preparing in-ground plumbing lines. Foundation cement is scheduled for the week of December 12th. Want photos and regular updates? Follow us at MHBP Instagram, Muskoka Mead Instagram or on FaceBook!
- October 2022 - Our business expansion is underway! We have obtained our MTO and septic permits. The well drilling has been completed so we now have water onsite. Our Winery equipment and 5 fermentation tanks, as well as our reclaimed kitchen shelving/cabinets have been purchased and are in storage (in two provinces unfortunately).
- Summer 2022 - We FINALLY have our build permit!!!!!! Two years of hard work! Ground clearing has now begun to prepare for the foundation. The new steel building will be constructed on our 3.5 acre property on Highway 35, just south of Highway 60 in Dwight, ON.
