In August 2024, the Adlys family, the current owners of Huether Hotel, partnered with Establish Properties, a Toronto-based real estate business, to build 500 rental units and an arts hub.
Located in Uptown Waterloo, the Huether Hotel is one of the city’s prominent heritage landmarks and the site of Waterloo’s first brewery. In 1842, brewer Wilhelm Rebscher purchased the land from Elias Snider, an Ontario businessman and political figure who represented Waterloo North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a liberal member from 1881 to 1894.
Rebscher operated a brewery there until 1856. After his death, Christopher Huether and his father, Adam, took over the operation, renaming it the Lion Brewery.
Following Christopher’s passing in 1898, the hotel changed hands several times. Theresa Kuntz became the proprietor of the hotel and brewery after placing the highest bid during an auction.
She ran the brewery from 1910 to 1930, while the hotel was renamed Ewald House in 1911, and was passed to various owners. In 1934, Albert Snyder purchased the property and renamed it Hotel Kent.
The Adlys family acquired the hotel in 1953. In 1961, the City of Waterloo planned to build a parking lot nearby but discovered a cavern-like space in the building’s basement. In the eighties, the Adlys restored the building’s original name, the Huether Hotel, and operated it as the Lion Brewery Restaurant, Barley Works Pub and Grill, and Café 1842. The Lion Brewery continues to brew beer on-site and supplies the restaurant next door.
Although parts of the building date back to 1855, the current structure was developed in 1870, with a Victorian facade added in 1880. In 1988, the City of Waterloo designated the building under the Ontario Heritage Act for its historical and architectural value.
Heritage buildings are important because they contribute to the city’s unique identity, enrich its cultural life, and provide social, environmental and economic benefits.
“That’s why we’re committed to preserving it while also looking toward the future,” David Adyls, one of the managers, said. The family says the historic building will remain intact, while the surrounding space is redeveloped.
“We were not about to give it away, after 71 years of blood, sweat and tears,” David said. “So, when the right partnership comes along, we are willing to listen. We feel there is an opportunity here now, so we will see.”
Establish Properties, a private equity real estate firm in Toronto, was co-founded by Richard Vu and Harpinder Sandhu.
Vu studied economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and graduated in 2016. Sandhu, born and raised in Waterloo Region, later worked in Vancouver as an urban geographer and served as a board member of the B.C. Municipal Pension and a national representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
According to Sandhu, the development is in its early stages, with construction expected to start in two years following planning approvals and permits.
Kelly Adlys, another manager working at the hotel, said the development ensures the hotel’s long-term sustainability while keeping it relevant for future generations.
“We know that there will be some adjustments to the hotel, as far as bringing some areas to current standards and freshening up some areas,” Kelly said.
“This is important so that customers will keep coming back to enjoy what the Huether Hotel and what the uptown has to offer.”
Kelly explained that the redevelopment will replace aging structures on the block with modern, vibrant buildings. Once this is completed, it will allow people to move into the new buildings and experience uptown Waterloo.
“This new development will clean up Uptown Waterloo block nicely,” Kelly said.
David said he hopes that the art hub and the 500 new units will help the hotel thrive again like it did before COVID-19.
David added that, after COVID-19, it was a struggle for many restaurants to get people to come back. Many people started working from home and did not need to go out for meals, slowing the businesses in the uptown area. Many people have now been forced to return to their workplaces, but that isn’t enough to improve businesses.
Several businesses operate inside the Huether Hotel. One of them, The Jazz Room, has been a tenant for 13 years. They plan to stay after the redevelopment, but the construction will disrupt their operations. Princess Cinemas has operated out of a space adjacent to the Huether Hotel for four decades. The owner, John Tutt, said he has not decided what will happen to the theatre in the future.
The Adlys family will continue their day-to-day operations at the Huether, while the developers carry out demolition and construction.
“The developers’ finished product must be in keeping with the uptown core and its surroundings. It needs to complement the uptown,” David said.
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