Justin and Hailey Bieber set Cambridge, Ont., abuzz while visiting local businesses

Justin Bieber created a buzz in Cambridge, Ont., on Friday — and not because of the recent surprise release of his album, Swag II.

Bieber and wife Hailey Bieber, a model, entrepreneur and member of the famous Baldwin family, stopped into locally owned businesses in the southern Ontario city about an hour west of Toronto.

In a post Thursday on his own Instagram page, Justin is seen in a photo, playing pool and darts at Chicago Pub & Billards on Hespeler Road. The post says, "I'm a gamer what can I say."

The restaurant posted photos of the singer-songwriter, who is originally from neighbouring Stratford, Ont., to their social media feeds. The pool hall also shared a video taken by photographer Taylor Jones to their Instagram stories showing Bieber singing Go Baby.

"From stage to our pub," the post said, showing photos of Bieber smiling with people who were also there.

Downtown Cambridge BIA shared two photos of the Biebers visiting Monigram Coffee and The Mule restaurant.

"We love seeing world-famous faces visiting the same local spots our community treasures every day," the BIA said in its post.

Under the comments of the photo for The Mule that was posted on Bieber's own account, local singer-songwriter Alysha Brilla wrote on Friday it was "so nice meeting you both yesterday and for being so sweet with my niece in the restaurant. your kindness touched us and of course her aunty (a fellow artist) loved the precious moment."

The stops in Cambridge aren't a surprise because the Biebers have a home in Puslinch, where they spent a lot of time during the pandemic. Justin has called it "one of the most peaceful places."

Cambridge Coun. Scott Hamilton says having star power like the Biebers visiting locally owned businesses is a big boon for the city because "it's not every day that one of the best-selling music artists of all time visits your city."

"I think all residents are excited that an internationally renowned, Grammy Award-winning, Juno Award-winning international pop star visited local shops that residents go to every day with their families," Hamilton told CBC News.

"I think it connects the international stardom of social media and television and entertainment with our everyday lives, and it's kind of a reminder of what a lot of Cambridge residents know and feel, which is we love our downtown core."

Hamilton added he hoped the two had a wonderful visit to the city.

"It's also a reminder that Justin and Hailey Bieber are people, too. They've got to get tacos, they've got to eat, they've got to go out for coffee and socialize," he said.

"It just reminds us that regardless of whatever walk of life we come from, we're all in this together. We can also go to the same shops, the same restaurants and we all share this this sense of humanness that is brought together when we stay local. We shop local, and to see an international mega star visit our our shops and our restaurants, it is a reminder that our city is a truly great place."

Camrbidge Mayor Jan Liggett said it brought her "great pride" to see the couple enjoying what the city has to offer.

"I have followed the reports of residents spotting them out and about — enjoying our restaurants, scenery, and sense of community — which are all features of the Cambridge experience being showcased on a world stage," Liggett said.