The business landscape at Muskoka Wharf is changing just in time for the high season in Muskoka.

Milani Women’s Apparel, which opened at the wharf in May 2006, has vacated the waterfront development on Muskoka Bay with plans to move to Port Carling’s fashion district, and a new retailer is already set to take their place in the retail hub close to Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre.

Muskoka Outfitters will be moving into the 1,600-square foot, 1-1/2 storey building owned by Golden Muskoka Developments with a soft opening planned for May 3, said the company’s owner/operator Peter deMos.

“We’ve been in business for 10 years with an excellent product mix that is well suited to the wharf,” deMos said in a telephone interview Friday.

The Gravenhurst Muskoka Outfitters location will offer more of a cottage recreational focus featuring canoes, kayaks, watersport toys and surf and swim clothing. The Bracebridge store will still be the location for outfitter and camping gear, he said.

“I think this will be a good move for us,” said deMos. “We’re already successful in Bracebridge and now we’re creating access to another group of cottagers.”

He said the new location on the bay lends itself to sea kayaking. Muskoka Outfitters hopes to work with a float plane company to offer fly-in tours on Georgian Bay.

The Residence Inn by Marriott hotel currently under construction was a big draw to the wharf.

He said he is committed to the long term, including the winter months, and finds the wharf’s cohesive approach to marketing “refreshing.”

“We may change our hours in the winter, but we’ll be open,” he said, adding hiking and back-country skiing and snowshoeing tours are under consideration. “We hope to build on the winter activities. We can really only see it growing.”

Milani’s Christina Ferrari said she hopes to open a new Port Carling location for the Victoria Day weekend.

“It’s not that we didn’t like the wharf. We’re looking for something more seasonal,” said Ferrari who also works at Muskoka Fitness. “It’s a bit of a side project, so we’re looking for something that meets our needs.”

Ferrari said the store was always intended to close in the winter, which Port Carling “is more used to.”

“I think the Port Carling clientele is better suited as there are similar stores that our customers shop at,” she explained. “We want to be closer to that market, so we’ll try it out and see how it works.”