Cafe-Boutique beginnings
Updated: Aug 1
The genius pairing of shopping and coffee began as a fun idea. I would ask myself, "where would I love to go?" I envisioned a place I could treat myself. At the intersection of unique fashion, great coffee, and a spa day. In 2018 we had the opportunity to partner with A Spa For You in Westfort Village. From there we started to create and live the dream. Our lease gave us access to a full service espresso bar so we partnered with a local coffee roaster and a tea sommelier. We used the kitchen to create soups and lunches, and we catered events. We sold rare books and crystals and ointments. We invited witches and tarot readings, and held creative workshops.
Some of my favourite days at the cafe-boutique were the quiet ones. Silently offering space for our patrons to read from our library, play a game of chess, or have intimate conversations.
We had just started to expand by offering our own spa services as well. Reflexology. Hypnotherapy. Crystal light treatments.
And then COVID came.
Suddenly we were forced to close our doors. Just shy of our two year anniversary of leasing and growing the space into something we loved and had meaning. Rather than pivoting and adapting, we retreated. Some businesses were able to access funds and expand to meet the changing times. Others were left to falter and fade.
C'est la vie.
The Cafe-Boutique served our heart and the needs of the community for the time it existed. We learned so much. We put ourselves out there. We felt the shock of systemic response to global pandemic. We healed from the pain of being left behind.
Years later, like so many others, we are reinventing ourselves personally and in business. Re-assessing our values in a new world. Forging new partnerships that align with updated resiliency strategies.
We began in a cozy cafe-boutique creating an experience we wanted to share, which perfectly suited that world. Today we offer something different. The world feels more serious but also creative and connected. We work with humanitarian and eco-conscious producers, creating the world we want to live in. I understand now, that it sometimes doesn't turn out the way you expected, but that is not failure. That is opportunity.
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