New Hotel Mayhew to bring lodging, dining and event space to Grand Marais

More than six years after a fire destroyed three businesses in downtown Grand Marais, construction is underway on a new development on the site, bringing a long-planned vision for the vacant lots along Wisconsin Street closer to reality.

Hotel Mayhew, owned by Joel and Amy Saint John, is planned as a nearly 30,000-square-foot, two-story mixed-use development featuring lodging, a restaurant, indoor event space, and several retail spaces.

The idea for Hotel Mayhew grew out of a need the Saint Johns saw through their existing business, the Mayhew Inn, a boutique hotel located just down the street by Joynes Ben Franklin and the Gun Flint Tavern.

“What we have found since opening and running the Mayhew since 2017-18 is the calls we’re getting for events and weddings, family reunions, or everything else in between,” said Joel. “We’ve not been able to accommodate.”

Over the years, the Mayhew Inn has accommodated smaller weddings of up to 75 people in its lobby and on the rooftop deck. However, Joel and Amy said that, because of limited space, the business has turned away about 30 to 40 weddings each year.

“It wasn’t expansion for expansion’s sake,” Joel said. “It was expansion out of need.”

The new building will feature an event space on the second level that can accommodate roughly 150 people, along with 10 lodging suites offering two-and three-bedroom layouts and full kitchens. A small bar and rooftop deck overlooking Lake Superior will round out the upper level.

Rendering of the Hotel Mayhew rooftop

The first floor, facing Wisconsin Street, will include a restaurant the owners describe as “elevated, but approachable,” a lounge, retail spaces, and a smaller, conference-style event room.

The building will also include accessibility features, including an elevator, two ADA-compliant lodging suites, and ADA access throughout.

Details for the restaurant and retail spaces are still being finalized, including the restaurant’s name and menu and which businesses will occupy the retail spaces, Joel and Amy said.

“We want a concept that works for both locals and tourists, and so we’re still working through concepts,” Joel said about the restaurant name and style. The owners said several interested businesses are exploring the retail spaces, though no tenants have been finalized.

Exterior rendering of Hotel Mayhew

Renderings of interior lounge and bar area at Hotel Mayhew

Renderings of interior lounge and bar area at Hotel Mayhew

Construction began earlier this summer with preliminary site work and will continue through the winter. Framing of the two-story building is expected to take about 16 weeks and extend into late winter or early spring 2027.  The footprint of the building is roughly 16,000 square-feet.

Joel and Amy said the project is scheduled for completion in June 2028.

The owners anticipate all components of Hotel Mayhew will operate year-round, with the goal of bringing more activity to downtown Grand Marais during the quieter months.

“If we can help the seasonality piece up here and help just the overall economics of downtown retail and restaurants,” he said, “I think it could be a really, really powerful thing.”

The site has largely remained vacant since the 2020 downtown fire destroyed three businesses: The Crooked Spoon, White Pine North and Picnic and Pine. Since then, the lots have occasionally hosted food trucks and seasonal vendors.

Once the project is complete, Joel and Amy expect Hotel Mayhew to create 12 to 15 full-time jobs, plus additional part-time positions to support events throughout the year across lodging, event space, and the restaurant.

Joel and Amy St. John at the Hotel Mayhew construction site | Contributed by Joel and Amy Saint John

While the main event space is designed for weddings, conferences, and larger gatherings, the owners also envision the building, particularly the lounge, as a place for smaller groups and local residents to gather during the week.

“Even if it’s just a group of women wanting to play Mahjong on a Tuesday afternoon and drink tea,” Amy said. “Have a book club meeting. Things like that.”

Amy said once Hotel Mayhew is open, she intends to be involved in the day to day aspects of the business and said she is “Looking forward to inspiring people and finding ways to give back and become deeper rooted in the community.”

“That’s really important to us,” Joel said.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins sat down with Hotel Mayhew owners Joel and Amy Saint John to talk about the mixed-use commercial project as construction gets underway. Included in the interview are more details about each component of the business. Audio below.

Kalli Hawkins October 26, 2026