LOOKING AHEAD 2023: Newmarket Main Street merchants anticipate opening of Postmark Hotel will be 'phenomenal'

York Region's first boutique hotel jibes with town's plans as arts and culture destination

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 6, 2023
Lisa Queen

Main Street merchants are happily envisioning the impact the Postmark Hotel will have downtown when York Region’s first boutique hotel opens in the historic Clock Tower in 2023.

Just picture it, Denise Sindle-Tucker, owner of Olive Oil Co. Inc., and Angel Dumelie, owner of Blooming Wellies Flower Boutique, located beside the hotel at 180 Main St. S., said.

Guests will step out of the Postmark and have shops and restaurants, as well as events and attractions on Main Street, Riverwalk Commons, Fairy Lake and the Old Town Hall, at their fingertips.

The hotel may purchase items from local merchants, such as decor or gifts for guests.

The Postmark could be the place to stay for film crews using Main Street as a backdrop for television shows and movies, such as episodes of the Handmaid’s Tale shot downtown in 2022.

“Can you imagine this time next year, with the Postmark Hotel open, people coming down (to Main Street) and having their coffee and strolling on the street and wanting to take home a souvenir of being in Newmarket and doing some shopping? It’s just phenomenal,” Sindle-Tucker said.

“It will definitely attract people to the downtown. It just amplifies the vibe that’s already here. It’s definitely going to be the anchor down here and it’s going to draw people down here. It’s going to put Newmarket on the map, quite frankly.”

Dumelie agreed.

“It will increase our vibe as a destination,” she said.

“It’s definitely the greatest option they had in play for the building, historic-wise, because it has so much reverence from the town in general but specially for marketing (the neighbourhood). These people (hotel owners) are doing right by the historical aspect of the building. They’re making a special effort to honour its past and to honour the space.”

The Postmark’s owners, Streetcar Developments and partner Dream Unlimited, are looking forward to the hotel’s opening, expected in July, in the landmark Clock Tower, Sonya Singh, director of marketing and communications, said.

Sindle-Tucker, who moved her shop from Upper Canada Mall to Main Street last April, said the hotel will add to the downtown core’s growing robust atmosphere.

“This is the place to be in Newmarket right now,” she said.

“Main Street is the climate, this is the mood, this is the theme, this is the temperament, this is strolling and window shopping and coming into a store and buying, as well. This is the heart of Newmarket. This is where the tree-lighting is, this is where the parade is, this is where Canada’s Day is, this is where the farmers’ market is, this is where everything happens in Newmarket.”

Silvana Stefani, operations manager for the Cocoa40 handcrafted chocolate shop, is awaiting the Postmark’s opening.

“We’re really looking forward to them opening up because we do art here, basically. I think it will attract a lot of people with that kind of background,” she said.

“They might come in here and enjoy artisanal chocolates and artisanal gelato and hopefully we can also provide (the hotel) with chocolates when people check in. They may get a couple chocolates as a welcome,” she said.

Mayor John Taylor, who said Newmarket is working to become a destination community for arts and culture, is excited about the hotel.

“The Postmark Hotel is quite simply a game-changer for Main Street Newmarket. The first and only boutique hotel in York Region will be a partner for the BIA and the town in elevating our events and concerts as well as attracting thousands of tourists each year,” he said.

“Main Street should be proud to welcome the Postmark Hotel because it is the collective accomplishments of many people and merchants over many years, that attracted Postmark to our award-winning downtown.”

Main Street BIA chair, Tom Hempen, also looks forward to the hotel’s opening.

“It’s really exciting. It’s going to bring a lot of new people to the street and it’s another amazing thing for our Main Street,” he said.