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Construction is underway on a new Hotel Mayhew in downtown Grand Marais, Minnesota. Joel and Amy Saint John’s nearly 30,000-square-foot, two-story project is planned to include 10 two- and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens, an event hall for about 150 people, a restaurant, lounge, retail space and a rooftop deck with Lake Superior views. Preliminary site work began in summer 2026. Framing is expected to continue for about 16 weeks into late winter or early spring 2027, with completion targeted for June 2028.
Why is Hotel Mayhew being built?
The Saint Johns say the project grew from demand they could not meet at their nearby Mayhew Inn. That property has hosted weddings of up to about 75 guests, but the owners told WTIP in October 2026 that they turn away roughly 30 to 40 weddings each year because the existing venue is too small.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Joel Saint John described the development as an “expansion out of need,” rather than growth for its own sake. The larger building is intended to support weddings, conferences, arts and music events, corporate retreats and informal local gatherings. The owners also want the hotel, restaurant, lounge and event areas to operate year-round, helping reduce the pronounced seasonal swings in downtown business.
“We want a concept that works for both locals and tourists, and so we’re still working through concepts,” Saint John said. He said a year-round destination could strengthen the economics of downtown retail and restaurants as well as the hotel itself.
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What will the new Hotel Mayhew include?
The current plan is substantially larger than the project described in earlier public records. WTIP’s 2026 report describes nearly 30,000 square feet on two stories, with a building footprint of about 16,000 square feet.
| Planned feature | Current detail |
|---|---|
| Lodging | 10 two- and three-bedroom suites, each planned with a full kitchen |
| Main event space | Capacity of roughly 150 people |
| Additional meeting space | A smaller conference-style room |
| Food and social areas | Restaurant, lounge and a small bar |
| Commercial space | Retail areas; tenants have not been selected |
| Outdoor space | Rooftop deck overlooking Lake Superior |
| Accessibility | Elevator, two ADA-compliant suites and ADA access throughout |
| Operating goal | Year-round lodging, dining and event uses |
The owners have not announced a restaurant name, menu, retail tenants or final operating details. No room rates, event prices or opening reservations had been published as of October 26, 2026.
Where is the project being built?
Hotel Mayhew is planned for vacant downtown lots along Wisconsin Street. The lots were occupied by The Crooked Spoon, White Pine North and Picnic and Pine before those businesses were destroyed in an April 2020 fire.
Grand Marais’ Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional-use permit in January 2024. That earlier application described a 10,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial building, so the approved concept and the current 2026 description should not be treated as identical plans. The project’s present scope reflects later development work and financing decisions.
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What is the construction schedule?
Preliminary site work started in summer 2026 and is continuing through winter. The owners told WTIP that framing is expected to take approximately 16 weeks, extending into late winter or early spring 2027. Their published completion target is June 2028; that is a target, not a guaranteed opening date.
Construction is expected to close part of the neighboring delivery alley while work proceeds. Parking is planned in a lot next to Superior Creamery. Visitors and downtown businesses should expect access and loading arrangements to change during the build, although a detailed traffic schedule has not been announced.
How is Hotel Mayhew funded?
Minutes from the Minnesota Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board dated March 26, 2024 record a $400,000 grant for infrastructure and site work. That funding record referred to a 10,000-square-foot Mayhew Commercial Project and projected 39 permanent jobs plus 99 construction jobs at that planning stage.
Those job figures are earlier projections, not the latest operating forecast. In August 2026, the Cook County Economic Development Authority approved an extension of the IRRR grant after financing, environmental review, testing and other development matters delayed the project. The EDA said financing was then in its final stages.
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How many jobs could the hotel create?
The latest public estimate is smaller and more specific to the current operation: the owners expect 12 to 15 full-time jobs, plus additional part-time positions tied to events. Those positions would support lodging, food service, the lounge and event programming. The project’s year-round operating plan is also intended to provide steadier employment than a strictly seasonal business.
Will Hotel Mayhew host weddings and other events?
Yes. The main event room is planned for approximately 150 guests, more than twice the capacity of the existing Mayhew Inn’s largest reported weddings. A separate smaller meeting room is intended for conference-style gatherings. The owners have identified weddings, conferences, corporate retreats, arts and music events and local social functions as potential uses, but detailed packages and pricing are not yet available.
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The building program is defined at a high level, but several customer-facing details remain open. The restaurant operator or name, menu, retail tenants, event packages, room rates, reservation launch and final day-to-day operating policies had not been announced by October 26, 2026. The June 2028 date should therefore be read as the owners’ current completion goal rather than a confirmed public opening.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
How many hotel rooms will Hotel Mayhew have?
The plan calls for 10 lodging suites, not 10 conventional single-room units. Each suite is expected to have two or three bedrooms and a full kitchen, but the total number of individual beds has not been announced.
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What happened to the businesses that occupied the Hotel Mayhew site?
The Wisconsin Street lots were formerly home to The Crooked Spoon, White Pine North and Picnic and Pine. An April 2020 fire destroyed those businesses, leaving the downtown parcels vacant before this redevelopment.
Will downtown access change during construction?
Part of the neighboring delivery alley is expected to close while work is underway. Project plans call for parking in a lot next to Superior Creamery; specific dates and temporary loading instructions have not been released.
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Is the June 2028 Hotel Mayhew opening date confirmed?
No. June 2028 is the completion target stated by the owners. Construction timing, financing and final tenant decisions can still affect when the building is ready to open.
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