Visitors to St. Marys now have one more option to choose from at the St. Marys Golf & Country Club, which on Thursday celebrated the opening of its new Penrose Suites that overlook the course.
Visitors to St. Marys now have one more option to choose from at the St. Marys Golf & Country Club, which on Thursday celebrated the opening of its new Penrose Suites that overlook the course.
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Candra Staffen, the project’s design lead, said the family’s latest endeavor ultimately started when her grandfather Earl Staffen opened Staffen Food Market store in the 70s.
“It was his vision, hard work and dedication that laid the foundation for our businesses, including the Penrose suites,” she said.
The name Penrose is also a nod to the grocery store when Earl, before bar codes were used, would have his customers mark products with red pen before taking them to the till.
“That’s where pen comes from,” she said. “Rose symbolizes the red ink, a nod to the color that became synonymous with his store and his spirit.
“What started as a seed of an idea has blossomed into a beautiful property and will continue to grow into a successful business that services our community.”
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The nine-suite building has been in the works for about three years, said Matt Saffen, the country club’s president and general manager. This has been the work of many key partners, including land use planner Zelinka Priamo Ltd., Orchard Design Studio and St Marys Home Building Centre, he said.
“Through grit and determination, coupled with countless hours of research, planning, design and development, we’ve created a premier accommodation destination in southwestern Ontario,” he added.
St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee thanked the Staffens for making their latest investment in the community.
“This is incredibly important, and we know that it will carry on the tradition of customer service in our community,” Strathdee said.
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The new property has three two-bedroom suites with two king beds that can sleep six guests, three two-bedroom suites with one king bed and two twin beds that can also sleep six, and three one-bedroom suites with a king bed that can sleep two. Each suite has a kitchenette, fireplace and veranda.
The aim is to have it used by a wide range of guests, including wedding couples and their guests, vacationers, golfers and corporate clients.
The first guests were set to arrive Thursday afternoon.
“These new accommodations will … (bring) people to our wonderful town and create opportunities for our residents and business owners,” Candra Staffen said. “Through all of your effort and your support, the Penrose suites will showcase everything St Marys has to offer, creating a lasting legacy for our vibrant community.”
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