Hale Muskoka Expands as a Year-Round Community Hub

📅 2 weeks ago

Hale Muskoka, founded by Eric Abugov and Robin Kerbel, is evolving into a vibrant community hub in Gravenhurst, Ontario, featuring diverse events, a permanent retail space, and plans for year-round operations.

During weekends from summer to early fall, Hale Muskoka presents a variety of unique activities, culinary experiences, and sights for visitors. Guests may find themselves crafting charcuterie boards under the guidance of Michelin-starred chefs, enjoying food truck offerings by a cozy fireside, or exploring an open-air market accompanied by live music. This vibrant atmosphere exemplifies what Hale Muskoka has become, as expressed by its founder, Eric Abugov. 'It's built for you to experience,' he states, highlighting his vision for the site.
Abugov, an experienced figure in the development sector, along with his wife, initiated the soft launch of this market and events hub last summer. Today, their five-acre farm in Gravenhurst serves as a gathering place for locals, cottagers, and tourists, featuring an array of food and retail vendors, a weekly open-air market, and various events and activities.
Hale Muskoka aims to fulfill the need for a 'third space'—a community environment that Abugov and his wife perceived as lacking after relocating to the area following the pandemic. 'If you live here or you're a cottager, you’re coming to get away from the day-to-day action of the city, and you’re going to rest and relax,' Abugov explains. 'But there are also downtimes here, like Sundays or rainy days, where the monotony can creep in. We felt Muskoka lacked the very thing that people have been escaping, essentially, and that's community stimulation and experience. That’s how Hale was born.'
This year, Hale has reinstated popular events from the previous summer, such as a charcuterie 'tasting and making' experience in collaboration with St. Catherines’ Fat Rabbit and Jesse Tree Fine Foods, as well as the 'Smash & Sear: Best in Burger' competition featuring a lineup of renowned Canadian chefs. New attractions include Cabin, a permanent retail space showcasing Ontario- and Canadian-made products. The Board & Barrel: Charcuterie Experience is scheduled for July 25, and the Smash & Sear competition will take place on August 9.
Looking ahead, Abugov envisions a broader purpose for Hale, with plans to introduce The Barn and The Grange event venues by spring 2027, allowing the facility to operate year-round. These venues are intended for weddings, corporate gatherings, film productions, and live performances in a Zen garden, alongside a commercial kitchen for local vendors to utilize.
Abugov emphasizes the importance of adaptability in these spaces, likening them to a Broadway theater that must be flexible enough to accommodate various events. 'We don’t create the show; we put on the show,' he states, reflecting on his extensive background in retail and mixed-use development.
With over three decades in the industry, including two decades as president of Stockdale Development Corporation, which specializes in mixed-use communities and urban renewal, Abugov has taken an unconventional approach with Hale. He acquired the land in 2024 and launched the market side in 2025, securing necessary building permits earlier this year for the indoor venues.
Traditionally, developments follow a sequence that begins with conceptualization, due diligence, and infrastructure before establishing businesses to fill the space. However, Abugov has reversed this process by starting with the market and vendors first. 'It was kind of a backwards approach, but it’s all really worked,' he remarks, noting that this has allowed for a more organic growth.
'It’s been a nice, comfortable way to grow,' he adds, emphasizing the significance of sustaining success during slower months by creating opportunities where others may not. 'It’s important for us to be in the community, and it's important to not be one-dimensional. To be able to meet the dimension, the broadness of the marketplace, because that's what Hale is all about.'

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