The city announced in 2023 that the Paul Martin Building at 185 would be transformed into a boutique hotel by RM Holdings.
The boutique hotel taking shape inside Windsor’s historic Paul Martin Building with a multi-million-dollar renovation won’t open until next summer, but there’s already a waiting list.
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A representative of the company behind the renovations, which also runs the Retro Suites Hotel in Chatham, said Friday the phones have been ringing.
“We’ve actually had people call Retro Suites in Chatham and already asked to be put on a wait list and to let them know when it’s open and when they can start booking,” said Tina Childs, general manager of the Chatham hotel. “So, at my computer in Chatham, I have a little list already started for people who also want conference space and guest rooms as well.”
The City of Windsor announced in 2023 that the Paul Martin Building at 185 Ouellette Ave. would be transformed into a boutique hotel by RM Holdings, the company behind Chatham’s popular Retro Suites.
The city, which bought the 1934 building from the federal government for $1, transferred it to RM Holdings for the same price on the condition it follow through with $30-million investment plans.
Childs gave reporters a “sneak-peek” tour of the building on Friday as workers ran wiring, drilled window frames and walked room-to-room on stilts mudding ceiling drywall.
Despite missing walls, exposed concrete floors and open ceilings in many areas, Childs said the hotel will open by “late spring or early summer 2027.” It will create about 100 jobs, she said.
“We do have a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s very exciting,” said Childs. “And for some of us the most exciting part is now coming: the decorating and getting all the little pieces from unique light fixtures to art and everything in between.”
She said the building has already gone through a massive transformation from the first time she stepped through the doors.
“The first time I was here the floors were wide open and we had cubicles everywhere,” said Childs. “It was a government building. So it’s been exciting for us to see all the changes here over the last few years.”
Despite the massive overhaul, many of the building’s historic elements will be preserved.
“If you look around the lobby, there is the original terrazzo, there is the lime and marble,” said Childs “Up on the floors we found hardwood when we removed some of the carpet, original hardwood. We’re going to try to preserve that where we can, and all the beautiful historic elements on the front and on the inside of the building.”
