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April 10, 2020

Mystic Seaport Museum postpones hotel project due to coronavirus

IMAGES | BEINFIELD ARCHITECTS. A rendering of the planned new hotel in Mystic.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Construction on a new Delamar Mystic Hotel slated to be built on the property of the Mystic Seaport Museum has been delayed for one year.

Museum officials announced Wednesday that the Greenwich Hospitality Group decided to postpone construction because of the “economic and market uncertainty,” surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The developer had just received the required approval from the town of Stonington in early March, shortly before Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order to close all non-essential businesses. Construction had been scheduled to commence in early 2021, according to an announcement, with an original planned opening in early 2022.

The plan still calls for a new 26-room boutique hotel and restaurant at the site. Greenwich Hospitality Group has hotels around the country and in Connecticut, including in Greenwich, Southport, West Hartford, Hartford and Danbury.

Currently, the Latitude 41 Restaurant & Tavern is located on land where the new hotel will be built. Museum officials indicated they have reached an agreement to extend their event catering and food service contract with Coastal Gourmet Group, which operates Latitude 41, for one year, so it will be effective through Dec. 31, 2021.

Coastal Gourmet also provides dining and catering services in the River Room, Claggett Boat Shed, and the North Lawn for special events such as weddings and corporate gatherings.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Coastal Gourmet Group as they have been outstanding partners with the museum for many years,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport Museum, in the announcement.

It is unknown when Lamont will lift the order on non-essential businesses. Lamont said in a press briefing Wednesday that he thinks “social distancing is working” to help stem the rate of coronavirus infections in Connecticut. As of late Wednesday, Lamont reported that 8,871 Connecticut residents had tested positive, and there had been 335 fatalities.

In March, the museum informed state labor officials it planned to temporarily close the facility, resulting in the layoff of 199 employees, due to the loss of business related to the pandemic.

It remains to be seen when the museum, a top tourist attraction for the state, will be able to reopen its 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic facility.

Dan McFadden, director of communications for the museum, said via email Thursday, “Unfortunately, we do not know when we will be able to reopen, but we will as soon as the governor’s executive orders will permit us to and we are certain we can do so safely.”

In the meantime, it has a digital museum on its website.

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