Restaurant that dates back to 1960 suddenly closes in southern Ontario

A long-standing restaurant that has operated as a fine dining destination in some capacity since 1960 recently announced it can no longer continue due to the sluggish economy, which has left many hospitality businesses struggling since the pandemic. 

This week, the owners of the Aberfoyle Mill restaurant announced that, after 35 years, they have no choice but to close the iconic restaurant in Puslinch, Ontario. 

The Aberfoyle Mill, known for its traditional elevated fare (think duck leg confit, pistachio-crusted salmon, chicken supreme, prime rib and pasta) and murder-mystery nights, posted a farewell message on its website. 

“We [would] like to thank all of our wonderful customers over the last 35 yrs that we had the pleasure of serving at the Aberfoyle Mill,” operators wrote. 

“Unfortunately as many are aware the economy over the last few years has not been as robust as before COVID. It has made business in our industry very difficult. So it is with heavy hearts that we close this chapter at the Mill.” 

The restaurant, which has served diners in the Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo area for decades, boasts a storied past.

Located inside a structure the Puslinch Historical Society believes dates back to 1862, the long-standing mill, which survived a village fire, was built by George McLean, a saw miller who came to Canada from Scotland with his family as a child. 

According to the Puslinch Historical Society’s website, the mill was transformed almost 100 years after its inception in 1960, when Stanley and Marion Owens purchased the property and transformed it into a restaurant.

The historical society says Marion Owens, who came to Canada from England in 1947, was one of the ten women decorated with the Order of the British Empire for bravery in the Battle of Britain. The website says she was the driver for the London fire chief during the bombing and was awarded for closing a fire door during a raid on the Woolwich Arsenal.

The society’s website also notes that she was the granddaughter of the sculptor who designed the cenotaph at Whitehall, as well as the owner of Toronto antique shop, the Avenue Shop.  

The historical society said the Owens restored the mill after purchasing it, repairing the turbine, machinery, and sluice runway, and constructing a stone fireplace that weighed close to 27 tonnes. The decor, the site says, was comprised entirely of authentic antiques. 

In 1973, the couple, who have both since died, sold the property to Bill-lyn Co. Ltd.

The news of the restaurant’s sudden closure has left people reeling.

“I called this evening so I could try and squeeze in one last reservation before they closed for good, however John the manager confirmed they closed on Sunday,” one poster wrote on the Guelph subreddit.

“I’m so incredibly sad to hear. My husband and I got married at the Aberfoyle Mill last summer and it was a beautiful time. We were planning on having our one year anniversary dinner there. I wish Ron, John, and the staff the best during this difficult chapter.” 

Others said they had hoped the news wasn’t true.

“I was hoping this was some kind of April Fool’s joke,” another poster wrote. 

While the news has shocked the community, restaurant closures–which have always been common–have increased since the pandemic. 

A joint study conducted by Statistics Canada, Restaurants Canada, and Dalhousie University, released earlier this year, projected that Canada will lose nearly 4,000 restaurants in 2026. 

Challenges cited in the report included major shifts in consumer behaviour, such as a lack of a steady culture of going out for drinks or food in Canada, as well as overall economic stressors such as the ongoing trade war with the U.S.

Cover photo from the Aberfoyle Mill’s official Instagram account