Over the last few months, you may have been driving along 401 through Quinte West and noticed some work being done near the Glen Miller Road exit.
The secret is finally out on one of the largest commercial developments the Bay of Quinte region has seen in years.
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On Monday morning, dignitaries, project managers, and owners Mike and Nickey Eden officially broke ground on Homestead Marketplace. Work on the property began several weeks ago, and the concept started to take shape in 2019.
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It is on an 18-acre piece of land, adjacent to the current Leon’s Superstore in Trenton (Glen Miller Road and 401).
Owner Mike Eden:
“Project’s been in development for two and a half years. It’s taken us a long time to get to the point where we are ready to break ground, ready to finally get everything moving forward. “
“A lot of the inspiration for the concept and design began with our Guinness World Record attempt in mid-2019. The community came out in full force to help us create the Largest Human Maple Leaf. We see first hand what this community is capable of and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Homestead Marketplace will be a mechanism for community engagement.”
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Owner Mike Eden discusses plans for the new Homestead Marketplace (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
Homestead Marketplace will be 165,000 square feet, with 1,000 feet of frontage on the 401. Eden says the 12 businesses under the Homestead umbrella will be one-stop shopping for food, home, recreation, lifestyle, leisure, entertainment and shopping. Eden adds the intention of the development is not just brick and mortar.
“To provide entertainment, family atmosphere, to host family events, charitable events. Just to be a hub for the community.”
Included at the site will be an expanded Leon’s Superstore Trenton, Custom Carts, The Factory Store, The Battery Outlet, along with eight other businesses, yet to be named.
There will be a massive 80-foot flagpole with the Canadian flag that will be visible for miles around.
An adventure golf and high ropes park, a pond with remote control boats and three restaurants will be part of the complex. The names of the other businesses are going to be released in the coming months, however, Eden did indicate there would be a national chain restaurant, a breakfast restaurant, and a specialty pastry/dessert restaurant.
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Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison was blown away at the scale of the project.
“You can’t even hardly describe it, it’s so enormous and so complex and yet Mike’s (Eden) been able to bring it all together. Great location for the City of Quinte West.”
There is going to be a focus on the region’s history, there will be an ability to host concerts, and celebrate the holidays. There will also be a second phase to the site, but those details have not yet been released.
Eden’s hope is for a ribbon-cutting on Homestead Marketplace in mid-2023.
