KATRINA BOGUSKI
Staff Reporter
BARRY’S BAY – The Pinewood Inn on Highway 62 in Barry’s Bay has new owners, and they are happy to be here. In December the deal to purchase the motel was finalized, and on March 11th the new owners officially took over the operation of the business.
The property is owned by Snehal Patel and is operated by her brother Himanshu Patel. The Patels’ decision to acquire the business in the midst of the pandemic is a vote of confidence in the long-term prospects for the region’s economy. As we embark on another 4-week “emergency brake” lockdown, it is good to be reminded that many companies still are making plans and are hopeful for the future. People like the Patels see the value of investing in our area and that speaks volumes for the confidence they have in an eventual economic recovery.
The Valley Gazette interviewed Himanshu Patel over the phone to find out a bit more about him and the plans for The Pinewood Inn.
The Patels are originally from Anand, a city in the state of Gujarat India with a population of 218,486. Anand is known as the “Milk Capital” of India and has a diverse economy based on agriculture and manufacturing and technology.
Snehal Patel left Anand in 2011, immigrating to Canada and settling in Orillia. The Patel family owns multiple business properties besides the Pinewood, including the Oakwood Motel, Gravenhurst, Muskoka and Caswell Resort Hotel, Sundridge, Parry Sound.
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