162 Queen hosts Business After 5

By Stewart Grant

The Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce holds many events during the year, including the monthly Business After 5 (BA5) networking gatherings for its members.

The most recent BA5 was held here in St. Marys last Wednesday, Feb. 25, with proprietor Taylor McDonald hosting at 162 Queen.

Conveniently leading into the downtown Soup Crawl the same evening, the BA5 event was well-attended, providing many with their first look inside the renovated space and a better understanding of the two separate businesses that operate from this downtown location.

What stood out most to attendees was the unique combination of workspace and accommodations. Having The Loft upstairs allows for retreats, multi-day workshops, or a “stay and work” experience, something people were genuinely excited about.

“I was overwhelmed in the best way by the turnout,” said McDonald, who estimated that approximately 40-50 people attended the event at 162 Queen and The Loft @ 162 Queen.

“Just four months ago, 162 Queen and The Loft @ 162 Queen were simply ideas and concepts. To see such strong attendance and receive overwhelmingly positive feedback in such a short time has been incredibly encouraging. Many people shared that a space like this is truly needed not only in St. Marys, but especially for service-based and online businesses looking for professional environments to host workshops, meet with clients, or collaborate with their teams.”

McDonald shared that bookings on both levels have been off to a good start.

“The Loft @ 162 Queen has been booked every weekend since opening on Nov. 21, 2025, with only a handful of weekend dates remaining between now and September. Guests have primarily been visiting friends and family in the area or exploring everything St. Marys and the surrounding communities have to offer.

“On the workspace side, bookings continue to grow steadily. Many clients are renting the entire space for team days, workshops and private meetings. Both spaces are being used on a near-daily basis.

McDonald explained that one trend she has noticed is while many people have the ability to work from home, many are looking for a professional, neutral environment in the downtown core; a space that feels welcoming yet productive.

Overnight accommodations at The Loft @ 162 Queen can be booked directly through Airbnb (airbnb.ca/h/theloftat162queen), while workspace rentals at 162 Queen can be booked online through the company’s booking platform at https://162queen.simplybook.me/v2/#. For those interested in booking both spaces together, reserving multiple days, or arranging something not listed online, contact McDonald directly at 162queenstreeteast@gmail.com.