April 2026
An iconic restaurant in Puslinch Township, north of Hamilton, Ontario, has closed after 35-years of operation. The Aberfoyle Mill closed their doors on 5 April, a victim of declining customer numbers that have made the restaurant unsustainable, particularly due to economic difficulties following the pandemic and a poor economy.
Owner John Manolis posted a brief message on the restaurant’s web site, announcing the closure.
The Aberfoyle Mill, found in the village of Aberfoyle, has operated as a restaurant and event space under various owners since1960, in a converted mill that dates back to around 1866. The current version of the restaurant had been operating since 1990 and had become somewhat of a landmark in Puslinch Township.
It was on 14 June 1960, when owners Stanley and Marion Owens opened a restaurant in the restored mill, a result of six years of work, preserving as a historic site and a link to Puslinch Township’s early years. The turbine, the machinery and the sluice runway were all restored. A large Credit Valley cut stone fireplace was built in the main dining room, with decor made up entirely of authentic antiques constituting the country’s largest personal collection of items distinctive to Canadian culture and history.
Manolis hasn’t made any statements as to what the future holds for the 166-year-old historic mill and landmark in Aberfoyle.
Sources: Last service: Aberfoyle Mill announces sudden closure – FlamboroughToday.com, Aberfoyle Mill restaurant closes after 35 years, Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant – Excellence in Dining with Cozy Country Charm, Iconic local restaurant announces sudden closure – Guelph News, Puslinch Historical Society.
