Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Shovels were dug into the ground at the corner of Napanee’s Jim Kimmett Boulevard and McPherson Drive on Wednesday, marking the start of construction of a 76 room, five-storey Tru by Hilton hotel.
The project is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
“This project has taken a lot of twists and turns as we’ve dealt with the pandemic and coming out of the pandemic and a new landscape for the hospitality industry,” said Sukh Thind, whose family company Singh and Singh Holdings will own the hotel. “We came to Napanee originally specifically for this hotel. And we’re three years later we’re actually breaking ground. It’s been quite the last three years, in that time we’ve been able to plant some roots in Napanee, become members of the community, work on projects locally as well and now we’re operating the Shoeless Joe’s restaurant as well.”
A rendering of the five-story, 76 room hotel. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The hotel will be directly adjacent to Shoeless Joe’s, officially located at 17 McPherson Dr.
Greater Napanee town staff and council, as well as Rebecca Wilkinson on behalf of Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, were on hand to mark the occasion.
“I know this project is very important to everybody in this community,” said Greater Napanee mayor Terry Richardson. “Whenever we can attract an important business like the Hilton in our community, it’s a good thing. I think the rest of the world and the rest of the province is going to see Napanee is a place we can live, we can grow, we can retire, we can work. I’m super excited for today. I know it’s been a long time coming and I know a lot of hard work has gone into it.”