ELORA – The Elora Mews at 45 Mill Street has been bought by a new owner who is looking to maintain its historical value.
Kristy Hillis will be taking over ownership of the historic shopping area and seized at the chance to protect it.
“I don’t want to develop it, I want to preserve it,” Hillis said. “I’ll do repairs or maybe work on the stonework around it but I think that just keeping it as is, is my idea of preserving it.”
Hillis’ name and motivation are becoming familiar in that area. In early January it was announced she had bought the Gorge Cinema, next door to the Elora Mews, also with the intention of keeping its historic features and function as a cinema.
Hillis, who grew up in Elora, is the owner of a high-end auction jewellery business and previously lived in Thailand for 18 years. Before COVID, she brought her family to visit her hometown for an extended visit so her children can understand what it’s like to live a year in Canada before going back to Bangkok.
Her family has been stuck here ever since.
“It’s kind of crazy how the world works and being stuck here actually turned into such a positive experience for my family and then becoming part of the community again after being gone for so many years,” Hillis said.
Hillis bought the Elora Mews from Renee Makino who owned it for 40 years.
Makino explained in a phone interview what is now the Elora Mews was historically part of a furniture factory.
As far as Makino knows there was a fire in the 1950s that burned down most of the factory but left the now iconic stone walls that face the sidewalk on Mill Street.
She said the Elora Mews as seen today was mostly built up from the owners before her in the 1970s and herself in the 1980s.
Makino said she’s enjoyed her time as an owner and seeing those who have rented over the years start successful businesses.
She said she was never interested in selling despite some interested parties but felt it was time to move on after all these years.
She said she is thrilled to have a buyer who is enthusiastic about Elora’s historic charm.
“I have loved the fact that the Mews has all that historical character from the walls and all the stone,” Makino said, adding she is pleased to know the Gorge Cinema building is being restored as well.
Hillis said she noticed the great work being done by the Elora Mill on the other side of the Grand River but wanted to protect some of the historic areas.
She said she worried with high real estate prices, there would be a lot of opportunity for people to sell and the Elora Mews could easily have been bought up by those looking to develop.
“I think that in such a small town like Elora, it would be amazing if that little tiny … historical area was preserved and protected as we grow,” Hillis said.
“It feels amazing that I’m in a position that I can give back to where I grew up, my hometown, and kind of protect a little bit of the heart of it.”
