Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant has closed
Mayor: closure means 'losing a piece of our shared story'
ABERFOYLE – Long known for hosting weddings, murder mystery events and elegant dinners, the Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant has closed.
The closure was announced this week on the mill's website with a simple statement from owner "John (Manolis) and Ron and staff."
The post thanked the mill's clientele for 35 years of patronage and attributed the closure to challenges that began during the pandemic and to ongoing economic challenges from which it could not recover.
“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," the post states.
"So it is with heavy hearts that we close this chapter at the mill."
The Aberfoyle Mill was built in 1859 by Scottish immigrant George McLean and became famous for its award-winning oatmeal in 1867.
It was destroyed by fire in 1868 and was rebuilt with a focus on producing flour.
The mill changed hands several times in the late 1800s and used water, and later steam, for power. Operations ceased in the 1920s.
Restored by Stanley and Marion Owens in the 1960s, it has been a restaurant and antique centre ever since.
In a post on his personal Facebook page, Puslinch Mayor James Seeley said the mill was part of the township’s identity, “a place where memories were made, milestones were celebrated and history was felt the moment you walked through the doors.”
He called the building a Puslinch landmark and a feature that attracted out-of-towners.
“Losing something like this isn’t just about a building closing – it’s about losing a piece of our shared story,” Seeley wrote.
A few panicked brides-to-be are suddenly looking for a new wedding venue after the announcement. Their weddings were booked for August and now they are out of luck, according to some Facebook posts.
But there were even more stories about the restaurant on the What’s Happening Puslinch Facebook page describing the food as excellent, the atmosphere as elegant and the owner as kind and philanthropic.
