05: The Secret Behind a Small Town Business That Connects

1 00:00:00,719 - > 00:00:02,640 SPEAKER_00: The internet has taught us to think about 2 00:00:02,640 - > 00:00:05,440 business in terms of visibility, growth, and scale. 3 00:00:05,599 - > 00:00:08,400 But some of the most successful businesses I've encountered in 4 00:00:08,400 - > 00:00:11,679 small towns have built something entirely different. 5 00:00:11,919 - > 00:00:13,679 They've built a sense of belonging. 6 00:00:13,839 - > 00:00:16,480 And I think there might be an important lesson in that. 7 00:00:17,679 - > 00:00:21,120 Welcome to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the 8 00:00:21,120 - > 00:00:23,920 business behind Main Streets and the people shaping small towns 9 00:00:23,920 - > 00:00:25,839 across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. 10 00:00:26,000 - > 00:00:29,760 I'm Jan Dishwell, top-right podcast host, marketer, and 11 00:00:29,760 - > 00:00:30,879 small town local. 12 00:00:31,039 - > 00:00:33,840 And every Thursday, we're diving into honest conversations about 13 00:00:33,840 - > 00:00:38,320 entrepreneurship, creativity, marketing, reinvention, and what 14 00:00:38,320 - > 00:00:41,119 it really takes to build something meaningful in a small 15 00:00:41,119 - > 00:00:42,000 town today. 16 00:00:42,159 - > 00:00:45,439 From local storefronts to growing brands, community 17 00:00:45,439 - > 00:00:48,640 builders to nationally recognized names, this is where 18 00:00:48,640 - > 00:00:50,960 modern business meets small town life. 19 00:00:51,200 - > 00:00:52,719 Let's get into it. 20 00:00:53,840 - > 00:00:56,479 Well, hello, and welcome back to Small Town Stories. 21 00:00:56,640 - > 00:00:58,479 I'm your host, Jan Ditchfield. 22 00:00:58,799 - > 00:01:01,600 Lately, I've been thinking about the places that make us feel 23 00:01:01,600 - > 00:01:02,560 like we belong. 24 00:01:02,799 - > 00:01:06,480 Not our homes exactly, and not necessarily the places that we 25 00:01:06,480 - > 00:01:06,799 work. 26 00:01:07,120 - > 00:01:10,879 I'm talking about those third spaces that somehow become part 27 00:01:10,879 - > 00:01:12,560 of the rhythm of our lives. 28 00:01:12,879 - > 00:01:15,760 The places where we run into neighbors, we catch up with 29 00:01:15,760 - > 00:01:20,400 friends, celebrate good news, recover from bad news, and 30 00:01:20,400 - > 00:01:24,079 slowly become connected to the people around us without ever 31 00:01:24,079 - > 00:01:25,280 really planning to. 32 00:01:25,840 - > 00:01:27,680 Every community seems to have them. 33 00:01:27,920 - > 00:01:30,959 And in Merrickville, one of those places is the Village 34 00:01:30,959 - > 00:01:31,359 Bean. 35 00:01:31,599 - > 00:01:34,159 Now, if you've never been to Merrickville before, the Village 36 00:01:34,159 - > 00:01:36,799 Bean is a coffee house tucked into the heart of the village. 37 00:01:37,280 - > 00:01:40,560 And on any given day, you'll find locals gathering around the 38 00:01:40,560 - > 00:01:44,400 tables, tourists wandering in from the streets, cyclists 39 00:01:44,400 - > 00:01:48,319 stopping during a ride, and occasionally even horses tied up 40 00:01:48,319 - > 00:01:50,719 outside while their riders come in for a coffee. 41 00:01:51,040 - > 00:01:53,760 It's the kind of place that makes visitors look around and 42 00:01:53,760 - > 00:01:56,799 think, people actually get to live like this? 43 00:01:57,519 - > 00:02:01,359 And at the center of all of it is Robin Frederickson. 44 00:02:02,000 - > 00:02:04,719 Fifteen years ago, after being laid off from her previous 45 00:02:04,719 - > 00:02:07,280 career, Robin made a decision that would keep her in the 46 00:02:07,280 - > 00:02:08,960 community she had come to love. 47 00:02:09,439 - > 00:02:11,840 What she couldn't have known at the time was that she wasn't 48 00:02:11,840 - > 00:02:15,199 simply buying a coffee shop, she was becoming the steward of one 49 00:02:15,199 - > 00:02:17,280 of the places where community happens. 50 00:02:17,840 - > 00:02:20,639 My conversation with Robin wasn't really about coffee. 51 00:02:21,039 - > 00:02:24,080 It was about why some businesses become part of people's lives 52 00:02:24,319 - > 00:02:26,800 while others remain places we simply visit. 53 00:02:27,120 - > 00:02:30,240 Because after 15 years, the village bean isn't just a 54 00:02:30,240 - > 00:02:33,120 successful business, it's become part of the story of the 55 00:02:33,120 - > 00:02:34,319 community itself. 56 00:02:34,560 - > 00:02:36,800 And I think there's an important lesson in that. 57 00:02:37,039 - > 00:02:38,639 So let's get into it. 58 00:02:41,599 - > 00:02:42,879 Robin, welcome to the show. 59 00:02:43,199 - > 00:02:44,479 Thank you so much for having me. 60 00:02:44,800 - > 00:02:47,680 I've been really looking forward to this conversation because one 61 00:02:47,680 - > 00:02:50,719 of the things that I've become fascinated by while making this 62 00:02:50,719 - > 00:02:55,360 podcast is that every small town seems to have a few places that 63 00:02:55,360 - > 00:02:59,759 becomes part of people's lives in a way that's hard to explain. 64 00:03:00,000 - > 00:03:02,719 And I think for me, the village bean is that from Ericville in 65 00:03:02,719 - > 00:03:03,439 many ways, isn't it? 66 00:03:03,759 - > 00:03:04,800 I I think it is, yes. 67 00:03:04,960 - > 00:03:05,280 Yeah. 68 00:03:05,599 - > 00:03:10,080 So I know that um the bean is something, again, if um anyone 69 00:03:10,080 - > 00:03:12,960 who's locals listening, we know you everybody, you know who they 70 00:03:12,960 - > 00:03:15,360 are, and they know who you are, because everybody, we all go to 71 00:03:15,360 - > 00:03:16,080 the bean. 72 00:03:16,240 - > 00:03:19,360 Um, but I really wanted to kind of start back with how you came 73 00:03:19,360 - > 00:03:22,879 to the bean and how the bean became your business as well. 74 00:03:23,199 - > 00:03:26,000 Because you bought it um as a way to stay in Merrickville 75 00:03:26,159 - > 00:03:28,800 after a particular pretty big life change is what ended up 76 00:03:28,800 - > 00:03:29,039 happening. 77 00:03:29,280 - > 00:03:32,159 And I was wondering if you could kind of walk me through what it 78 00:03:32,159 - > 00:03:35,360 was about this community that made you want to build your life 79 00:03:35,360 - > 00:03:35,599 here. 80 00:03:35,919 - > 00:03:36,560 SPEAKER_01: Absolutely. 81 00:03:36,719 - > 00:03:39,520 Well, initially coming to Merrickville, it was I was in 82 00:03:39,520 - > 00:03:42,400 pharmaceutical sales and it was in the center of my territory. 83 00:03:42,560 - > 00:03:44,639 I was looking to leave the city. 84 00:03:44,719 - > 00:03:47,039 I wanted a little bit more of a slower pace of life. 85 00:03:47,199 - > 00:03:48,719 I wanted a little bit more space. 86 00:03:48,960 - > 00:03:51,919 And moving to Merrickville was a great way of doing that because 87 00:03:51,919 - > 00:03:55,599 I live two kilometers from the main core of the village, uh, 88 00:03:55,759 - > 00:03:59,280 but I have two acres of land, and it was a nice balance to be 89 00:03:59,280 - > 00:04:01,919 able to have all the resources and amenities that I wanted 90 00:04:01,919 - > 00:04:07,039 close by and but not be isolated by living far out in a more 91 00:04:07,039 - > 00:04:08,080 rural space. 92 00:04:08,400 - > 00:04:11,120 So that was what initially brought me to the area. 93 00:04:11,280 - > 00:04:15,120 And then a year after I moved here, I was laid off during an 94 00:04:15,120 - > 00:04:16,959 acquisition from my professional job. 95 00:04:17,120 - > 00:04:20,000 And so it gave me time to consider what was going to be 96 00:04:20,000 - > 00:04:22,720 the next steps, you know, what I was gonna be when I grew up. 97 00:04:23,439 - > 00:04:28,319 Um and I ended up getting to know people at the coffee shop. 98 00:04:28,480 - > 00:04:31,519 They ended up asking if I was interested in helping out there. 99 00:04:31,680 - > 00:04:34,639 And after a few months, they put it up for sale. 100 00:04:34,959 - > 00:04:38,959 And uh, me along with uh my dad, who's my business partner, uh we 101 00:04:38,959 - > 00:04:39,519 purchased it. 102 00:04:39,680 - > 00:04:42,399 So it was a great way to purchase a job for me to be able 103 00:04:42,399 - > 00:04:45,920 to stay local and a great uh retirement project for him as 104 00:04:45,920 - > 00:04:47,360 well when that time came. 105 00:04:47,759 - > 00:04:49,680 SPEAKER_00: I really like the story about your father because 106 00:04:49,680 - > 00:04:52,000 I didn't know that when we were talking before and getting ready 107 00:04:52,000 - > 00:04:53,600 for this, that your dad was a part of the business. 108 00:04:53,680 - > 00:04:56,000 It was a family business, is what it really is in a lot of 109 00:04:56,000 - > 00:04:56,319 ways. 110 00:04:56,480 - > 00:04:59,279 And it it struck me, and I was curious what it's like to build 111 00:04:59,279 - > 00:05:00,560 a business with your dad. 112 00:05:01,040 - > 00:05:02,480 SPEAKER_01: It's it's very interesting. 113 00:05:02,639 - > 00:05:04,959 I really do, I really do enjoy it. 114 00:05:05,120 - > 00:05:07,680 Uh, we have a really great relationship, but uh, for many 115 00:05:07,680 - > 00:05:11,839 years he lived down in Michigan uh with my mom and uh until she 116 00:05:11,839 - > 00:05:14,240 passed away and then eventually knew that when he retired he 117 00:05:14,240 - > 00:05:15,360 would come back to Canada. 118 00:05:15,600 - > 00:05:20,639 So finding something that was fulfilling for me and to be able 119 00:05:20,639 - > 00:05:25,680 to have a job and a career and an opportunity uh while giving 120 00:05:25,680 - > 00:05:28,480 him something to do as well in his retirement. 121 00:05:28,639 - > 00:05:33,439 I think absolutely it's kept him very vibrant as he's in his, 122 00:05:33,519 - > 00:05:35,199 he's in his mid-70s now. 123 00:05:35,279 - > 00:05:38,639 Um, but he likes to come in at the end of the day and do the 124 00:05:38,639 - > 00:05:41,759 cash and help the girls restock the fridge and do the garbages. 125 00:05:41,920 - > 00:05:45,279 And um, he likes that interaction with uh the people. 126 00:05:45,439 - > 00:05:47,920 And then him and his partner need to always come every 127 00:05:47,920 - > 00:05:51,360 morning and sit and have coffee and chat and and gather with 128 00:05:51,439 - > 00:05:52,319 with our community. 129 00:05:52,560 - > 00:05:54,319 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I know I see him there often. 130 00:05:54,480 - > 00:05:56,240 I always think it's it's I think it's special. 131 00:05:56,399 - > 00:05:56,879 It's wonderful. 132 00:05:56,959 - > 00:05:58,560 Yeah, it must be really wonderful. 133 00:05:58,879 - > 00:06:01,920 Um, I'm really curious about, you know, when we think about 134 00:06:01,920 - > 00:06:05,279 the village bean and we spend time there, it really is um a 135 00:06:05,279 - > 00:06:06,800 centerpiece to the to the village. 136 00:06:06,959 - > 00:06:11,120 And I I often think about what it must mean if somebody who 137 00:06:11,120 - > 00:06:13,279 actually wants to learn what it's like to live in a small 138 00:06:13,279 - > 00:06:16,560 town, a pulse of a small town, um, what do you think they would 139 00:06:16,560 - > 00:06:18,399 learn by spending a week at the bean? 140 00:06:18,720 - > 00:06:20,959 SPEAKER_01: Oh my goodness, they would learn, they would learn so 141 00:06:20,959 - > 00:06:21,120 much. 142 00:06:21,199 - > 00:06:23,279 I I always joke that Merrickville is full of 143 00:06:23,279 - > 00:06:25,360 character and it's also full of characters. 144 00:06:25,519 - > 00:06:28,399 There's such a dynamic group of people that come into the shop 145 00:06:28,399 - > 00:06:32,560 every day, and it really creates a very, a very interesting 146 00:06:32,560 - > 00:06:33,360 atmosphere. 147 00:06:33,600 - > 00:06:36,399 Even the other day, I was while I was working at the back, I 148 00:06:36,399 - > 00:06:38,879 turned around and looked, and there were eight different 149 00:06:38,879 - > 00:06:42,000 people sitting in the shop that had each come in individually, 150 00:06:42,079 - > 00:06:44,000 and they were sitting at three different tables. 151 00:06:44,160 - > 00:06:47,199 So they they had already grouped up and they were all having one 152 00:06:47,199 - > 00:06:47,839 conversation. 153 00:06:48,079 - > 00:06:50,319 And I just thought this was a really, you know, it's a really 154 00:06:50,319 - > 00:06:53,360 fascinating thing that happens where you have all of these 155 00:06:53,360 - > 00:06:56,079 different people who come in and join, and then one conversation 156 00:06:56,079 - > 00:06:59,519 will will ensue and different viewpoints that go from one side 157 00:06:59,519 - > 00:07:01,680 of the shop to the other and discussions. 158 00:07:01,759 - > 00:07:05,519 And I I really do do love that for anybody who's looking for 159 00:07:05,839 - > 00:07:09,279 resources, if they have any questions, if they're looking 160 00:07:09,279 - > 00:07:13,040 for, you know, a painter or I need someone to help with this, 161 00:07:13,120 - > 00:07:15,680 or does anybody have a truck to help me move that? 162 00:07:15,920 - > 00:07:21,680 It's a great way to find out from the collective knowledge uh 163 00:07:21,839 - > 00:07:25,279 base of the people who who frequent the coffee shop. 164 00:07:25,680 - > 00:07:27,839 SPEAKER_00: Do you think that there are people who don't live 165 00:07:28,000 - > 00:07:30,879 live in small towns that misunderstand I mean, you know, 166 00:07:30,959 - > 00:07:32,639 what do they misunderstand most about community? 167 00:07:32,720 - > 00:07:35,600 Because really at the heart of it, the being is it's community. 168 00:07:36,000 - > 00:07:37,199 SPEAKER_01: I I feel that way. 169 00:07:37,279 - > 00:07:39,360 And that's one of the things that I love most about it is 170 00:07:39,360 - > 00:07:42,399 that being that a focal point for the community and a place 171 00:07:42,399 - > 00:07:46,319 for people to come together to meet, where you know, you walk 172 00:07:46,319 - > 00:07:49,439 in as strangers and leave as friends, a sort of idea. 173 00:07:49,600 - > 00:07:53,040 And I think that goes for our locals and sometimes even when 174 00:07:53,120 - > 00:07:56,160 you when the tourists come in and they see that dynamic and 175 00:07:56,160 - > 00:07:58,800 they think that this is a pretty, a pretty special place. 176 00:07:58,879 - > 00:08:02,319 And I always appreciate it and love it when they give us that 177 00:08:02,319 - > 00:08:03,360 free that feedback. 178 00:08:03,600 - > 00:08:04,240 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 179 00:08:04,720 - > 00:08:08,959 And just continuing down this path, the the village bean has 180 00:08:08,959 - > 00:08:11,199 been described as a heartbeat of the community, and it's it's 181 00:08:11,199 - > 00:08:11,839 very on social. 182 00:08:12,079 - > 00:08:13,439 You see it, you hear it everywhere. 183 00:08:13,519 - > 00:08:14,399 It's people talk about. 184 00:08:14,800 - > 00:08:17,839 And I'm curious from your perspective, what makes a place 185 00:08:17,839 - > 00:08:19,439 become the heartbeat of a town? 186 00:08:19,759 - > 00:08:21,600 That's a that's a that's a tough question. 187 00:08:21,759 - > 00:08:26,319 SPEAKER_01: I think consistency, I think being there every day, 188 00:08:26,480 - > 00:08:30,959 um, being somewhere that is familiar for people where they 189 00:08:30,959 - > 00:08:33,759 are seen when they walk in the door, they're recognized. 190 00:08:33,840 - > 00:08:38,000 We, we know their name, we know their coffee order, um, you 191 00:08:38,000 - > 00:08:41,279 know, we know their families, we know where they live. 192 00:08:41,440 - > 00:08:43,440 Um, it's really that familiarity. 193 00:08:43,519 - > 00:08:46,159 It's like people walking into their living room or walking 194 00:08:46,159 - > 00:08:48,960 into their own kitchen, I think, some some mornings to get their 195 00:08:48,960 - > 00:08:49,360 coffee. 196 00:08:49,519 - > 00:08:51,759 That's what they're doing when they they come into the coffee 197 00:08:51,759 - > 00:08:52,159 shop. 198 00:08:52,320 - > 00:08:56,399 And I I'm always so grateful when I I see comments, you know, 199 00:08:56,559 - > 00:08:59,360 on social media about us being the heartbeat. 200 00:08:59,440 - > 00:09:01,200 I I'm very grateful for that. 201 00:09:01,360 - > 00:09:04,559 But I do feel that we are a bit of a focal point uh within the 202 00:09:04,639 - > 00:09:05,840 within the community. 203 00:09:06,000 - > 00:09:10,000 And it's also something where I always tell parents or new 204 00:09:10,000 - > 00:09:12,639 parents to town, tell your kids that they're always safe here. 205 00:09:12,799 - > 00:09:15,759 You know, if they ever, if they ever find themselves lost or 206 00:09:15,759 - > 00:09:19,440 disconnected with someone, tell them to come here because we are 207 00:09:19,440 - > 00:09:23,120 connected enough that we will be able to figure out where they 208 00:09:23,120 - > 00:09:25,600 live, who they belong to, get in touch with their parents. 209 00:09:25,759 - > 00:09:26,960 We know enough people. 210 00:09:27,279 - > 00:09:30,879 And I I always want people to feel that. 211 00:09:31,120 - > 00:09:35,200 And that also goes for our senior community as well, that 212 00:09:35,360 - > 00:09:38,799 where they might feel a little bit more lonely or be living on 213 00:09:38,799 - > 00:09:41,519 their living on their own, they know that they can always come 214 00:09:41,519 - > 00:09:44,639 to the coffee shop and sit and have a coffee in a muffin if 215 00:09:44,639 - > 00:09:47,440 they want to engage in conversation with other people, 216 00:09:47,759 - > 00:09:49,120 they're there to do that. 217 00:09:49,279 - > 00:09:52,960 And I think that creates an environment that's that's 218 00:09:52,960 - > 00:09:56,799 comfortable and it fulfills a need within our community. 219 00:09:57,200 - > 00:09:59,120 SPEAKER_00: We were talking about this before we, when we 220 00:09:59,120 - > 00:10:00,879 were getting ready to record the episode, we were talking about 221 00:10:00,879 - > 00:10:02,000 the idea of third places, right? 222 00:10:02,080 - > 00:10:02,720 Third spaces. 223 00:10:02,799 - > 00:10:02,960 Yes. 224 00:10:03,120 - > 00:10:06,240 And that that very much is what the village being represents to 225 00:10:06,240 - > 00:10:08,879 so many people is their third space. 226 00:10:09,440 - > 00:10:11,120 SPEAKER_01: I'm also grateful for that. 227 00:10:11,279 - > 00:10:15,039 I recently came back from a trip in Europe, and one of the things 228 00:10:15,039 - > 00:10:17,600 that struck me is that in these more ancient, you know, 229 00:10:17,759 - > 00:10:21,759 civilizations um and and areas, they've always built in a 230 00:10:21,759 - > 00:10:23,360 gathering spot within the community. 231 00:10:23,440 - > 00:10:26,559 You know, if you go to Italy, there's the the piazzas that are 232 00:10:26,559 - > 00:10:30,480 built at Center Square where there's, you know, cafe culture, 233 00:10:30,559 - > 00:10:34,399 there's bistros, there's places for music, for people to just be 234 00:10:34,639 - > 00:10:36,399 and to connect with one another. 235 00:10:36,639 - > 00:10:40,320 And so so, yes, I'm very grateful that people feel 236 00:10:40,320 - > 00:10:45,519 comfortable and that we can, you know, hopefully be one of those 237 00:10:45,519 - > 00:10:46,799 places for our community. 238 00:10:47,200 - > 00:10:49,840 SPEAKER_00: Did you at any point s realize that you simply 239 00:10:49,840 - > 00:10:52,639 weren't serving coffee anymore, that there was more happening 240 00:10:52,639 - > 00:10:54,879 there than just being a coffee shop? 241 00:10:55,200 - > 00:10:58,240 SPEAKER_01: I wish I could pinpoint a time when that became 242 00:10:58,240 - > 00:11:01,679 a realization, but you know, at some point over the years it 243 00:11:01,679 - > 00:11:01,919 did. 244 00:11:02,000 - > 00:11:06,799 It's not a transaction, just a coffee transaction or sandwich 245 00:11:06,799 - > 00:11:08,000 breakfast transaction. 246 00:11:08,159 - > 00:11:11,840 It really is about uh knowing people's, knowing, knowing 247 00:11:11,840 - > 00:11:12,720 people's names. 248 00:11:12,960 - > 00:11:16,159 And, you know, sometimes my friend customers will come in 249 00:11:16,240 - > 00:11:19,679 and you know, I give them hugs and it's it's a really, you 250 00:11:19,679 - > 00:11:21,519 know, joyful, joyful time. 251 00:11:21,600 - > 00:11:24,799 As I it's like seeing your family and your friends come in 252 00:11:24,799 - > 00:11:25,759 every day. 253 00:11:26,080 - > 00:11:32,080 So yeah, I realize that it's it's it's more, it's more, it's 254 00:11:32,080 - > 00:11:33,120 not about the coffee. 255 00:11:33,279 - > 00:11:34,480 It's really not about the coffee. 256 00:11:34,559 - > 00:11:37,120 It's about the experience that people have and hopefully for 257 00:11:37,120 - > 00:11:40,639 the most part how we make them feel when they walk in the door. 258 00:11:41,519 - > 00:11:45,200 SPEAKER_00: Do you ever feel um, I think, surprised by that 259 00:11:45,200 - > 00:11:47,360 responsibility or by what you've created there? 260 00:11:47,440 - > 00:11:49,600 Like, does it ever have you ever had a moment to reflect on that? 261 00:11:49,840 - > 00:11:52,240 I know I'm throwing you with that question, but I I'm just 262 00:11:52,559 - > 00:11:55,440 this I'm always so impressed with you and so and what you 263 00:11:55,440 - > 00:11:56,080 create by it. 264 00:11:56,159 - > 00:11:58,720 And I know how you're so deeply respected in the community. 265 00:11:58,960 - > 00:12:02,080 So I just wonder sometimes, is that how does that make you 266 00:12:02,080 - > 00:12:02,639 feel? 267 00:12:03,039 - > 00:12:05,200 SPEAKER_01: It actually makes me makes me quite emotional. 268 00:12:05,360 - > 00:12:07,759 I think uh the time that that really came to the forefront, I 269 00:12:07,759 - > 00:12:09,120 think was during the pandemic. 270 00:12:09,279 - > 00:12:14,080 Uh, we closed, I was coming back from a trip, and so I had to 271 00:12:14,080 - > 00:12:14,639 quarantine. 272 00:12:14,720 - > 00:12:17,360 And so as soon as I knew that my staff was going to be taken care 273 00:12:17,360 - > 00:12:23,039 of, uh, I I did lay them off and we were closed for one week 274 00:12:23,039 - > 00:12:24,000 during the pandemic. 275 00:12:24,240 - > 00:12:26,240 Other than that, we were open every single day. 276 00:12:26,480 - > 00:12:30,159 So then once I came back and was able to be back in the shop, we 277 00:12:30,159 - > 00:12:31,200 did modified hours. 278 00:12:31,279 - > 00:12:34,080 We worked, I worked eight to two, seven days a week for seven 279 00:12:34,080 - > 00:12:35,360 weeks just by myself. 280 00:12:35,679 - > 00:12:38,559 Because could we have just closed our doors? 281 00:12:38,879 - > 00:12:39,519 Absolutely. 282 00:12:39,679 - > 00:12:42,240 You know, we we could have done that and I could have had some 283 00:12:42,240 - > 00:12:44,720 time, you know, at home and rested or whatever. 284 00:12:45,039 - > 00:12:48,639 But I felt a greater responsibility to the community 285 00:12:48,639 - > 00:12:54,399 and to still be there for the people who needed to see a face 286 00:12:55,039 - > 00:12:58,320 where they otherwise couldn't, um, who needed a place to just 287 00:12:58,320 - > 00:13:01,840 go, needed a place to go to pick up a coffee and exchange a few 288 00:13:01,840 - > 00:13:03,919 words for people with somebody else. 289 00:13:04,240 - > 00:13:08,080 And uh that was that was the reason that we we did it. 290 00:13:08,240 - > 00:13:12,159 And I was grateful that we were able to um to stay open and take 291 00:13:12,159 - > 00:13:14,000 out capacity throughout that. 292 00:13:14,159 - > 00:13:18,480 Uh, but I was so surprised by the number of faces we saw 293 00:13:18,559 - > 00:13:21,440 still, you know, every day that would come in and get a coffee 294 00:13:21,440 - > 00:13:24,879 or a meal to go as as many businesses we pivoted during 295 00:13:24,879 - > 00:13:27,360 that time to be able to meet the needs of our community as best 296 00:13:27,360 - > 00:13:28,159 that we could. 297 00:13:28,799 - > 00:13:33,200 Um, but even people that were just out for a drive to leave 298 00:13:33,200 - > 00:13:37,440 their house to be able to to see a smile, see a smiling face. 299 00:13:38,240 - > 00:13:38,799 Yes. 300 00:13:39,840 - > 00:13:43,360 See smiling eyes, let's let's say, but to but to still be 301 00:13:43,360 - > 00:13:47,279 there and still be that constant and that consistent consistent 302 00:13:47,279 - > 00:13:48,559 force in the community. 303 00:13:48,879 - > 00:13:49,200 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 304 00:13:49,440 - > 00:13:52,080 I imagine that after 15 years, because it's been 15 years that 305 00:13:52,080 - > 00:13:52,559 you've been in business. 306 00:13:53,039 - > 00:13:55,039 We did celebrate our 15th anniversary this year. 307 00:13:55,360 - > 00:13:56,480 That's incredible. 308 00:13:56,720 - > 00:13:59,360 Um, there's a lot of years behind the counter there, right, 309 00:13:59,440 - > 00:13:59,840 isn't there? 310 00:14:00,080 - > 00:14:00,559 There sure is. 311 00:14:00,720 - > 00:14:01,039 Yeah. 312 00:14:01,200 - > 00:14:04,000 Um what do you think you've learned about what people are 313 00:14:04,000 - > 00:14:07,039 really looking for when it comes when they when they walk through 314 00:14:07,039 - > 00:14:07,679 your door? 315 00:14:08,159 - > 00:14:13,919 SPEAKER_01: I think people are looking for something familiar 316 00:14:14,720 - > 00:14:21,759 and they are looking to be seen and to have something that is 317 00:14:21,759 - > 00:14:22,559 consistent. 318 00:14:23,519 - > 00:14:26,879 Where they know that they can always come in and get that cup 319 00:14:26,879 - > 00:14:30,240 of coffee or get that breakfast sandwich or one of our soups 320 00:14:30,240 - > 00:14:34,879 that we make, and that if they're in on a regular basis, 321 00:14:34,960 - > 00:14:37,840 we're likely going to recognize them and know their name. 322 00:14:38,000 - > 00:14:42,480 It's not just a faceless transaction, you know, it's a 323 00:14:42,480 - > 00:14:46,320 human interaction every time somebody comes in in the door, 324 00:14:46,399 - > 00:14:50,960 and that we do genuinely care about our customers and our 325 00:14:50,960 - > 00:14:52,960 people and our community. 326 00:14:53,759 - > 00:14:57,679 And I think that's what that's what brings people back. 327 00:14:58,159 - > 00:15:00,480 SPEAKER_00: Has that shaped your strategy with the business as 328 00:15:00,480 - > 00:15:03,279 well, of how you run things and how you operate, of that 329 00:15:03,279 - > 00:15:05,360 consistency and that reliability? 330 00:15:05,759 - > 00:15:08,720 SPEAKER_01: I try to think about things a little bit more perhaps 331 00:15:08,960 - > 00:15:10,799 mindfully than strategically. 332 00:15:10,960 - > 00:15:16,159 Um, I try to make sure that we have decisions, we make 333 00:15:16,159 - > 00:15:19,279 decisions based on the needs of our locals and based on the 334 00:15:19,279 - > 00:15:21,759 needs of our tourists, because they are a little bit different 335 00:15:21,840 - > 00:15:22,720 uh dynamic. 336 00:15:22,879 - > 00:15:26,159 The tourists come in and they do enjoy, you know, the new things 337 00:15:26,240 - > 00:15:30,320 or the quaint Mon Pa shop uh kind of vibe, which I love. 338 00:15:30,559 - > 00:15:33,440 But if I was to ever get rid of our egg salad sandwiches, there 339 00:15:33,440 - > 00:15:34,720 would be like a village upheaval. 340 00:15:35,039 - > 00:15:35,840 I'd be one of them. 341 00:15:36,639 - > 00:15:37,200 Yes. 342 00:15:37,519 - > 00:15:41,360 And so whenever I think about trying something new or changing 343 00:15:41,360 - > 00:15:45,200 something, I try to be very mindful about it because our 344 00:15:46,159 - > 00:15:50,240 local customer base likes that consistency and stability. 345 00:15:50,559 - > 00:15:55,039 And so I try to be, yeah, very cautious about the changes that 346 00:15:55,039 - > 00:15:57,200 I the changes that I bring into the shop. 347 00:15:57,360 - > 00:15:57,519 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 348 00:15:57,679 - > 00:15:59,919 Do you think people are looking for different things now than 349 00:15:59,919 - > 00:16:01,120 they were 15 years ago? 350 00:16:01,200 - > 00:16:04,720 Or have you felt that the thread really, maybe it's like avocado 351 00:16:04,720 - > 00:16:06,799 toast might be the thing, but the thread has still been the 352 00:16:06,799 - > 00:16:07,679 same the entire time? 353 00:16:07,919 - > 00:16:10,000 SPEAKER_01: I feel like the thread has still been the same 354 00:16:10,000 - > 00:16:10,879 the entire time. 355 00:16:11,120 - > 00:16:13,039 It's just, it's not fancy. 356 00:16:13,200 - > 00:16:18,960 It's good old-fashioned, nice quality mon pa shop, homemade 357 00:16:18,960 - > 00:16:19,519 food. 358 00:16:19,679 - > 00:16:23,279 Uh, things that you would make for yourself, um, but maybe you 359 00:16:23,279 - > 00:16:26,080 can't just can't be bothered to, or it's it's too much work or 360 00:16:26,320 - > 00:16:26,639 time. 361 00:16:26,799 - > 00:16:30,960 Um, so I think that ease for customers to be able to come in 362 00:16:30,960 - > 00:16:36,240 and purchase um things that that that they would make to serve 363 00:16:36,240 - > 00:16:36,799 their family. 364 00:16:37,279 - > 00:16:41,279 I always I say to my staff that when I'm training, if I'm making 365 00:16:41,279 - > 00:16:43,519 a sandwich, I was like, make this sandwich as though you were 366 00:16:43,519 - > 00:16:45,600 making it for yourself or you were making it for your best 367 00:16:45,600 - > 00:16:48,799 friend or your family member, you know, because that's that's 368 00:16:48,879 - > 00:16:50,879 that's who we're that's who we're serving. 369 00:16:51,039 - > 00:16:54,320 You know, I would never send a sandwich out or a food out that 370 00:16:54,320 - > 00:16:55,919 I wouldn't want to eat myself. 371 00:16:56,240 - > 00:17:00,639 And so I think that's kind of a thread that runs amongst what we 372 00:17:00,639 - > 00:17:00,799 do. 373 00:17:01,679 - > 00:17:03,679 SPEAKER_00: Your superpower is connecting with people. 374 00:17:03,840 - > 00:17:06,400 And I think you that's a self-identified superpower as 375 00:17:06,400 - > 00:17:09,440 well as one that I think is village identified as well. 376 00:17:09,680 - > 00:17:12,160 And why do you think that connection matters so much, 377 00:17:12,240 - > 00:17:13,680 especially in small towns? 378 00:17:15,039 - > 00:17:17,599 SPEAKER_01: I think ultimately it's a human need, you know, 379 00:17:17,680 - > 00:17:18,319 that connection. 380 00:17:18,480 - > 00:17:22,480 And it's hard while there's so much value to the the online 381 00:17:22,559 - > 00:17:23,200 space, right? 382 00:17:23,359 - > 00:17:26,480 There absolutely there absolutely is, but sometimes the 383 00:17:26,480 - > 00:17:29,920 pendulum swings too far in one direction and and sometimes it 384 00:17:29,920 - > 00:17:31,519 needs to come back in the other. 385 00:17:31,839 - > 00:17:35,359 And I feel like people are craving human connection, 386 00:17:35,440 - > 00:17:38,559 especially perhaps since the pandemic, that's become a little 387 00:17:38,559 - > 00:17:42,240 bit more awareness about connecting with other people 388 00:17:42,319 - > 00:17:43,599 when that was taken away from us. 389 00:17:43,759 - > 00:17:48,960 So I think when I was in sales, connecting with people and 390 00:17:48,960 - > 00:17:52,319 building relationships was very natural and easy for me. 391 00:17:52,400 - > 00:17:54,559 And I'm I'm very grateful for that. 392 00:17:54,720 - > 00:17:57,920 And it's definitely a skill set that translates well into what 393 00:17:57,920 - > 00:18:00,400 we're doing now at the coffee shop and being being in the 394 00:18:00,400 - > 00:18:00,880 community. 395 00:18:01,039 - > 00:18:05,680 But I think, yeah, commute community and connecting is such 396 00:18:05,680 - > 00:18:06,960 a human need. 397 00:18:08,000 - > 00:18:10,480 And I think it's important to have a place where you can get 398 00:18:10,480 - > 00:18:10,640 that. 399 00:18:10,799 - > 00:18:11,039 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 400 00:18:11,279 - > 00:18:13,200 I think it's interesting just when you're talking about the 401 00:18:13,200 - > 00:18:16,640 online space, because this podcast came because of my own 402 00:18:16,640 - > 00:18:20,319 exploration of coming, being in line online so heavily in my 403 00:18:20,319 - > 00:18:23,920 career and then living in the village and seeing such a 404 00:18:23,920 - > 00:18:27,759 difference between interaction and the way things are done, and 405 00:18:28,240 - > 00:18:32,079 questioning whether are we like the best things are actually 406 00:18:32,079 - > 00:18:33,759 maybe things that are right in front of us, right? 407 00:18:33,920 - > 00:18:37,680 And that day-to-day simplicity of stopping at front of the post 408 00:18:37,680 - > 00:18:40,079 office, like you and I had a conversation about the other 409 00:18:40,079 - > 00:18:42,160 day, just hi, you're in we about nothing. 410 00:18:42,240 - > 00:18:44,319 We just had a chat because we were both in front of the post 411 00:18:44,319 - > 00:18:44,720 office. 412 00:18:44,799 - > 00:18:46,079 And those little moments, right? 413 00:18:46,240 - > 00:18:49,279 Even imagine the sh the coffee shop where people it might be 414 00:18:49,279 - > 00:18:51,359 five minutes, but it might be one of the most important five 415 00:18:51,359 - > 00:18:52,240 minutes of their day. 416 00:18:52,480 - > 00:18:53,039 I agree. 417 00:18:53,200 - > 00:18:54,799 SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I absolutely agree. 418 00:18:55,039 - > 00:18:58,720 I think so much um we've gotten into sort of the fast, the 419 00:18:58,720 - > 00:19:00,079 fast-paced life, right? 420 00:19:00,240 - > 00:19:02,720 Where we, you know what, we do all the things, we're running 421 00:19:02,720 - > 00:19:06,559 from one place to another, where families are driving kids to one 422 00:19:06,559 - > 00:19:08,640 event and they're barely even sitting down and having a 423 00:19:08,640 - > 00:19:10,559 conversation and sharing a meal anymore. 424 00:19:11,039 - > 00:19:16,720 So I I think that really there's so much value uh to that, to 425 00:19:16,720 - > 00:19:20,000 taking those few minutes, talking to somebody, asking how 426 00:19:20,000 - > 00:19:25,599 their day was, listening to them, and um, you know, giving a 427 00:19:25,599 - > 00:19:27,119 little brightness to their to their day. 428 00:19:27,359 - > 00:19:28,799 SPEAKER_00: Yeah, absolutely. 429 00:19:29,279 - > 00:19:31,519 You've also said though that you've had to learn how to be 430 00:19:31,519 - > 00:19:35,039 Switzerland because running such, and there's a very visible 431 00:19:35,680 - > 00:19:38,720 business that you have, and you have a very visible role within 432 00:19:38,720 - > 00:19:39,519 it as well. 433 00:19:39,759 - > 00:19:43,039 And I'm wondering what have you learned about creating a space 434 00:19:43,039 - > 00:19:45,279 where people with different opinions and different 435 00:19:45,279 - > 00:19:49,680 backgrounds and experiences all feel welcome in one space. 436 00:19:50,319 - > 00:19:52,960 SPEAKER_01: We try our absolute best to make sure that everybody 437 00:19:53,119 - > 00:19:54,240 everybody feels welcome. 438 00:19:54,400 - > 00:19:58,640 And I had mentioned sometimes it's shop-wide conversations 439 00:19:58,640 - > 00:20:00,640 that happen with a number of individuals. 440 00:20:01,039 - > 00:20:04,720 And uh as as we know, everyone has their own opinion. 441 00:20:04,960 - > 00:20:07,440 And you know, there's a lot of division divisiveness, 442 00:20:07,599 - > 00:20:12,640 divisiveness, I guess, in a lot of division in the world, and so 443 00:20:12,960 - > 00:20:16,000 people will be there with different opinions. 444 00:20:16,240 - > 00:20:21,759 So I I make a point of being very neutral. 445 00:20:21,839 - > 00:20:25,440 Uh, I think that's important so that everybody does feel 446 00:20:25,440 - > 00:20:25,920 welcome. 447 00:20:26,079 - > 00:20:28,720 However, you know, there are times where there's heated 448 00:20:28,720 - > 00:20:32,000 conversations, and I just want everyone to feel comfortable 449 00:20:32,000 - > 00:20:32,160 there. 450 00:20:32,240 - > 00:20:34,799 And so every now and then it's politely asking, like, you know 451 00:20:34,799 - > 00:20:34,960 what? 452 00:20:35,119 - > 00:20:37,440 I appreciate you guys are having this conversation. 453 00:20:37,519 - > 00:20:38,720 It's getting a little heated. 454 00:20:38,960 - > 00:20:40,640 Perhaps better to take it somewhere else. 455 00:20:40,799 - > 00:20:42,160 You know, this is a safe space. 456 00:20:42,319 - > 00:20:45,759 Everybody deserves to feel safe here and feel welcome, and 457 00:20:45,759 - > 00:20:48,000 that's that's a priority for sure. 458 00:20:48,799 - > 00:20:52,720 SPEAKER_00: Um have you learned anything about people through 459 00:20:52,720 - > 00:20:53,839 trying to create a space like that? 460 00:20:54,000 - > 00:20:56,720 Are there things that have surprised you in positive ways 461 00:20:56,880 - > 00:21:00,880 when you are creating a place where everybody has a seat? 462 00:21:01,279 - > 00:21:05,119 SPEAKER_01: I do actually uh people people always surprise 463 00:21:05,119 - > 00:21:05,839 me, you know. 464 00:21:06,000 - > 00:21:09,200 There is uh some sometimes you wouldn't expect something from 465 00:21:09,200 - > 00:21:12,079 one person and then all of a sudden they show up. 466 00:21:12,240 - > 00:21:16,319 So, for example, 10 days before I took ownership of the coffee 467 00:21:16,319 - > 00:21:18,880 shop, I actually fell off my horse and broke my leg and had 468 00:21:18,880 - > 00:21:19,279 surgery. 469 00:21:19,759 - > 00:21:22,559 So the beginning was a little bit interesting because I wasn't 470 00:21:22,559 - > 00:21:25,839 able to be in the shop in the capacity that I I wanted to as 471 00:21:25,839 - > 00:21:27,279 an as a new owner. 472 00:21:27,519 - > 00:21:30,640 And there is this one uh local, his name is Paul. 473 00:21:30,720 - > 00:21:33,599 He was a biker guy, big, tall, a little rough around the edges, 474 00:21:33,759 - > 00:21:34,720 bald head. 475 00:21:35,039 - > 00:21:37,759 And I wasn't able to drive. 476 00:21:38,000 - > 00:21:41,279 And so sometimes I needed to run errands for the coffee shop. 477 00:21:41,440 - > 00:21:43,119 And he's like, I'll drive you. 478 00:21:43,359 - > 00:21:44,160 I'll drive you. 479 00:21:44,319 - > 00:21:45,119 We can go here. 480 00:21:45,200 - > 00:21:48,799 So he would drive me into town, drop me off at the door, get me 481 00:21:48,799 - > 00:21:51,519 in the buggy, the electric buggy to push around. 482 00:21:51,680 - > 00:21:54,480 He would push a cart so that I could go get all my shopping. 483 00:21:54,720 - > 00:21:57,279 He would go and get the car, help me load up. 484 00:21:57,519 - > 00:21:59,759 And so he never underestimated me. 485 00:22:00,640 - > 00:22:04,160 Um you know, people and how they'll how they'll show up for 486 00:22:04,160 - > 00:22:06,480 you and even how they'll show up for other members of the 487 00:22:06,480 - > 00:22:07,039 community. 488 00:22:07,200 - > 00:22:13,839 We've had other locals who have had to go into Ottawa every day 489 00:22:13,839 - > 00:22:16,640 for treatments or chemotherapy or dialysis. 490 00:22:16,799 - > 00:22:20,559 And we've had times where we've put up a sign-up sheet on the on 491 00:22:20,559 - > 00:22:24,400 the community chalkboard, the cork board, to be like, hey, can 492 00:22:24,400 - > 00:22:27,920 you sign up to drive so-and-so uh to Ottawa for treatment on 493 00:22:27,920 - > 00:22:28,319 this day? 494 00:22:28,400 - > 00:22:32,079 Here's the time slots, and they were always full, you know, just 495 00:22:32,079 - > 00:22:35,440 from other community members that would would come together 496 00:22:35,440 - > 00:22:39,119 and see that need and know the person, and they had the time 497 00:22:39,119 - > 00:22:39,680 available. 498 00:22:39,920 - > 00:22:44,559 So really coming together as all of the different resources in 499 00:22:44,559 - > 00:22:48,000 the community and how that can work together to make us all 500 00:22:48,000 - > 00:22:48,640 stronger. 501 00:22:48,880 - > 00:22:49,519 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 502 00:22:50,000 - > 00:22:52,720 I think it's something that you said to me once really struck me 503 00:22:52,799 - > 00:22:55,279 where you said nobody moves to a small town to be invisible. 504 00:22:55,920 - > 00:22:56,240 Right? 505 00:22:56,400 - > 00:22:59,920 And I think there's there's something very deep in that. 506 00:23:00,240 - > 00:23:00,880 SPEAKER_01: Absolutely. 507 00:23:01,039 - > 00:23:04,240 I I I definitely believe that's wholeheartedly. 508 00:23:04,319 - > 00:23:07,599 Um, it's really easy to be anonymous when you're in a big 509 00:23:07,599 - > 00:23:07,920 city. 510 00:23:08,000 - > 00:23:10,799 You can fall through the cracks, people cannot notice. 511 00:23:11,119 - > 00:23:15,039 But some of our seniors, for instance, that come in every 512 00:23:15,039 - > 00:23:15,200 day. 513 00:23:15,279 - > 00:23:17,759 If I don't see them for two days, I'm making a phone call 514 00:23:17,920 - > 00:23:19,359 trying to find out are they okay? 515 00:23:19,519 - > 00:23:20,480 Did something happen? 516 00:23:20,640 - > 00:23:23,839 Do we need to um do anything to follow up with this? 517 00:23:23,920 - > 00:23:28,319 Um, I even have phone numbers of some of our family members of 518 00:23:28,319 - > 00:23:30,079 seniors in our community too. 519 00:23:30,240 - > 00:23:33,920 Just if they don't check in, then then I can I can follow up 520 00:23:33,920 - > 00:23:34,400 with that. 521 00:23:34,640 - > 00:23:38,400 So I think, you know, and being in a small town, I've had 522 00:23:38,400 - > 00:23:41,359 customers say, Oh, well, everybody knows your business. 523 00:23:41,839 - > 00:23:46,000 Okay, well, if you ever need them, they know your business. 524 00:23:46,160 - > 00:23:49,599 And they're the first ones to to step up and and help. 525 00:23:49,759 - > 00:23:52,799 And I've never seen anything like, you know, the way this 526 00:23:52,799 - > 00:23:56,319 community rallies around its people when they're in a state 527 00:23:56,319 - > 00:23:57,440 of time of need. 528 00:23:57,599 - > 00:23:59,599 Um, it's really, it's really remarkable. 529 00:24:00,000 - > 00:24:01,119 SPEAKER_00: It is, it is. 530 00:24:01,519 - > 00:24:04,240 I think small towns are also kind of constantly in that, 531 00:24:04,319 - > 00:24:08,880 trying to balance growth and change and also preserving what 532 00:24:08,880 - > 00:24:10,160 makes them, makes them so special. 533 00:24:10,240 - > 00:24:13,359 And I think Merrickville very much is a we live that every day 534 00:24:13,440 - > 00:24:15,440 where we're trying to find what's that path, right? 535 00:24:15,599 - > 00:24:19,680 Between new, old, where's our lane within it? 536 00:24:19,920 - > 00:24:23,359 I'm curious what changes you've seen in the village and um what 537 00:24:23,359 - > 00:24:25,680 are some of the things that you hope to never see change? 538 00:24:27,440 - > 00:24:30,079 SPEAKER_01: There's definitely been a lot of changes in the 15 539 00:24:30,079 - > 00:24:31,759 years that I've I've been here. 540 00:24:31,920 - > 00:24:36,240 Uh, some new housing, new development, uh, new businesses, 541 00:24:36,319 - > 00:24:37,680 you know, come and come and go. 542 00:24:37,839 - > 00:24:41,200 I mean, there's always that that ebb and flow and the natural 543 00:24:42,079 - > 00:24:44,640 turnover, you know, that occurs in a small town. 544 00:24:44,880 - > 00:24:50,640 But I think, I think being here, and I feel like this is perhaps 545 00:24:51,119 - > 00:24:54,000 something that happens in other small towns as well, where you 546 00:24:54,000 - > 00:24:55,359 have a smaller tax base. 547 00:24:56,000 - > 00:25:01,680 And so it's difficult, more difficult to have the resources 548 00:25:01,680 - > 00:25:04,720 available that everybody would like, you know, to really meet 549 00:25:04,720 - > 00:25:05,119 our needs. 550 00:25:05,200 - > 00:25:06,799 We don't have any industry here. 551 00:25:07,359 - > 00:25:12,000 Um, so it makes our tax space a lot smaller and and so reliant 552 00:25:12,000 - > 00:25:14,799 on residential and then the smaller commercial 553 00:25:14,799 - > 00:25:16,880 establishments uh that we have. 554 00:25:17,119 - > 00:25:20,480 So I understand, you know, the need for perhaps some some 555 00:25:20,480 - > 00:25:23,839 development, some new growth where there is opportunity for 556 00:25:23,839 - > 00:25:24,160 that. 557 00:25:24,319 - > 00:25:31,279 But I think being mindful of what makes your small town their 558 00:25:31,279 - > 00:25:35,200 values and what makes it special and trying to protect that. 559 00:25:35,440 - > 00:25:38,640 So for us, I believe the heritage nature, you know, the 560 00:25:38,640 - > 00:25:44,079 Rideau Canal, um, being able to not modernize everything, um, 561 00:25:44,240 - > 00:25:47,359 being able to respect the historic buildings that we have 562 00:25:47,599 - > 00:25:50,480 and to be able to maintain them in in good repair. 563 00:25:50,720 - > 00:25:53,599 I think those are all things that are, I hope stay. 564 00:25:53,839 - > 00:25:59,599 And we don't we don't lose sight of that to be ultra modern, you 565 00:25:59,599 - > 00:26:02,240 know, respect the history that we have. 566 00:26:02,640 - > 00:26:06,319 But it does need to be balanced with with things that that make 567 00:26:06,319 - > 00:26:09,359 sense and welcoming, you know, some new members in into our 568 00:26:09,359 - > 00:26:12,000 commun into our community as well so that they can benefit 569 00:26:12,000 - > 00:26:12,480 from that. 570 00:26:12,720 - > 00:26:16,799 Since I've been here, I've noticed a more influx of more 571 00:26:16,799 - > 00:26:20,079 younger families, you know, and younger, you know, kids growing 572 00:26:20,079 - > 00:26:20,480 up here. 573 00:26:20,559 - > 00:26:25,839 And I just I love that that the kids can be in our community 574 00:26:25,839 - > 00:26:28,640 where they they know, you know, each other. 575 00:26:28,799 - > 00:26:31,599 They can ride their bikes, they can go to the candy store, they 576 00:26:31,759 - > 00:26:34,640 can come into the come into the shop and get a cookie and a 577 00:26:34,640 - > 00:26:38,079 chocolate milk, you know, and and that it's all gonna be okay, 578 00:26:38,319 - > 00:26:38,640 right? 579 00:26:38,799 - > 00:26:41,839 And I think I I hope that's something that never changes as 580 00:26:41,839 - > 00:26:42,079 well. 581 00:26:42,319 - > 00:26:42,640 SPEAKER_00: Yeah. 582 00:26:42,720 - > 00:26:43,839 I I appreciate that. 583 00:26:43,920 - > 00:26:47,039 I our our daughter, you are a regular conversation in the 584 00:26:47,039 - > 00:26:48,640 house because every week there's something where we're like, 585 00:26:48,720 - > 00:26:49,200 where do you want to do? 586 00:26:49,279 - > 00:26:49,759 What do you want to do? 587 00:26:50,000 - > 00:26:50,720 I want to go to the bean. 588 00:26:50,799 - > 00:26:51,279 We have bean. 589 00:26:51,359 - > 00:26:53,759 That's and it's just you've become part of our our 590 00:26:53,759 - > 00:26:56,720 traditions and our we want to do something as a family, we want 591 00:26:56,720 - > 00:26:58,079 to go for a walk, that's where we go. 592 00:26:58,160 - > 00:26:59,440 We want to treat, that's where we go. 593 00:26:59,759 - > 00:27:00,240 We love that. 594 00:27:00,400 - > 00:27:01,039 Yeah, thank you. 595 00:27:01,519 - > 00:27:02,880 We love that you're there. 596 00:27:03,119 - > 00:27:07,039 Speaking of traditions, um, you have a tradition of serving 597 00:27:07,039 - > 00:27:08,640 Christmas breakfast as well. 598 00:27:08,799 - > 00:27:09,759 And I really love this. 599 00:27:09,839 - > 00:27:12,160 And I'm wondering if you can talk a bit about how the story 600 00:27:12,319 - > 00:27:14,480 or this came to be, the tradition came to be. 601 00:27:14,799 - > 00:27:15,519 SPEAKER_01: Absolutely. 602 00:27:15,680 - > 00:27:17,440 I I wish I knew the year. 603 00:27:17,519 - > 00:27:20,480 I think that we've been doing this since the beginning, uh, if 604 00:27:20,480 - > 00:27:21,359 I think about it. 605 00:27:21,519 - > 00:27:24,960 But uh we've always done open for breakfast on Christmas Day. 606 00:27:25,119 - > 00:27:27,599 Now, it's not something that I expect my staff to work, it's 607 00:27:27,599 - > 00:27:30,880 the family, it's our family that that works on that day. 608 00:27:31,200 - > 00:27:35,440 But we usually welcome about 45 to 50 people in for breakfast on 609 00:27:35,440 - > 00:27:38,400 on Christmas morning, people who have made it part of their 610 00:27:38,400 - > 00:27:42,559 annual traditions, uh, families who have driven from Ottawa to 611 00:27:42,559 - > 00:27:45,119 meet up with family members at the coffee shop. 612 00:27:45,279 - > 00:27:48,480 You know, for me, it's like the biggest, there's no small 613 00:27:48,480 - > 00:27:49,920 children in in our family. 614 00:27:50,000 - > 00:27:54,160 So it's like the biggest best thing that I can do on Christmas 615 00:27:54,160 - > 00:27:57,920 morning is to wake up, you know, dress like a Christmas elf, wear 616 00:27:57,920 - > 00:28:00,799 my Santa hat, and and serve our community. 617 00:28:00,960 - > 00:28:03,039 Where I don't think there's a customer that comes in that 618 00:28:03,039 - > 00:28:07,359 doesn't get a Christmas hug and um, you know, share Christmas 619 00:28:07,680 - > 00:28:09,279 good Christmas wishes. 620 00:28:09,519 - > 00:28:12,160 And it's if you were to ask me what my favorite day to work is, 621 00:28:12,240 - > 00:28:14,880 I will always tell you it's Christmas, it's Christmas day. 622 00:28:15,119 - > 00:28:17,200 Yeah, it brings me so much, so much joy. 623 00:28:17,279 - > 00:28:22,000 It fills my cup being able to be there to be with our community. 624 00:28:22,319 - > 00:28:25,039 And you even kept that tradition alive during the pandemic. 625 00:28:25,359 - > 00:28:25,920 SPEAKER_00: We did. 626 00:28:26,079 - > 00:28:26,640 SPEAKER_01: We did. 627 00:28:26,799 - > 00:28:30,880 We we were able to open for indoor dining with uh 628 00:28:31,039 - > 00:28:31,839 restrictions. 629 00:28:32,000 - > 00:28:35,519 And so we set up four tables and did reservations every 15 630 00:28:35,519 - > 00:28:38,960 minutes uh that we could rotate through those four tables. 631 00:28:39,599 - > 00:28:43,200 Um, and then the next day we turned back to takeout. 632 00:28:43,359 - > 00:28:47,599 But we wanted to make sure that we still had that place uh where 633 00:28:47,599 - > 00:28:51,119 we could um still provide that that service and that need for 634 00:28:51,119 - > 00:28:51,839 our community. 635 00:28:52,079 - > 00:28:57,119 I think one Christmas story that really resonates with me was 636 00:28:57,599 - > 00:29:00,720 this older gentleman in town, Ernie, that didn't really have 637 00:29:00,720 - > 00:29:01,680 uh any family. 638 00:29:01,759 - > 00:29:04,400 And he used to come in in the morning and he would always just 639 00:29:04,400 - > 00:29:05,680 be so gruff every day. 640 00:29:05,920 - > 00:29:06,880 Good morning, Ernie. 641 00:29:07,200 - > 00:29:08,559 What can I get for you today? 642 00:29:08,799 - > 00:29:09,279 Dark. 643 00:29:09,440 - > 00:29:10,880 I'm like, okay, dark coffee. 644 00:29:10,960 - > 00:29:12,160 Yeah, great, have a good day. 645 00:29:12,400 - > 00:29:16,400 And I remember with him one time, I thought he responded 646 00:29:16,400 - > 00:29:17,839 with, have a good day too. 647 00:29:18,000 - > 00:29:19,680 And I thought, oh my gosh, I won. 648 00:29:19,920 - > 00:29:20,799 I broke through. 649 00:29:20,880 - > 00:29:23,920 It's it was a moment, and I was so happy. 650 00:29:24,160 - > 00:29:26,799 And he was one gentleman that would come in every Christmas 651 00:29:26,799 - > 00:29:27,839 morning while he was alive. 652 00:29:28,079 - > 00:29:31,920 He's a few passed away a number of years ago now, but he would 653 00:29:31,920 - > 00:29:35,119 come in and he would be dressed up in a nice button-down shirt 654 00:29:35,119 - > 00:29:38,000 and nice pair of khaki pants, and he would sit there and have 655 00:29:38,000 - > 00:29:41,920 breakfast on his own, but within a restaurant full of people, so 656 00:29:41,920 - > 00:29:44,000 he wasn't alone on Christmas Day. 657 00:29:44,079 - > 00:29:46,400 And I don't even know if he would have otherwise seen any 658 00:29:46,400 - > 00:29:48,640 other people um on Christmas Day. 659 00:29:48,799 - > 00:29:52,799 And so I always felt that we needed to be there for people 660 00:29:52,799 - > 00:29:56,400 like him as well, that there was a place um there with that there 661 00:29:56,400 - > 00:29:57,519 was a place to come. 662 00:29:57,599 - > 00:30:00,559 Now, there is other, you know, somewhere else in the village 663 00:30:00,559 - > 00:30:04,240 that does, you know, provide, you know, a place for people to 664 00:30:04,240 - > 00:30:05,279 gather for a meal. 665 00:30:05,440 - > 00:30:07,599 Um, you know, we're not we're not the only ones. 666 00:30:07,759 - > 00:30:11,680 There are other wonderful businesses, you know, in our 667 00:30:11,680 - > 00:30:13,920 community, and it really takes all of us to to bring it 668 00:30:13,920 - > 00:30:14,319 together. 669 00:30:14,480 - > 00:30:17,599 But, you know, that first thing in the morning, I'm I'm I'm 670 00:30:17,599 - > 00:30:20,319 happy to be there on Christmas morning for our people. 671 00:30:20,720 - > 00:30:21,920 SPEAKER_00: It's amazing. 672 00:30:22,319 - > 00:30:23,680 I want to think about this question. 673 00:30:23,839 - > 00:30:26,480 When people talk about the village bean, what do you hope 674 00:30:26,480 - > 00:30:28,160 they're saying about what you've built? 675 00:30:28,480 - > 00:30:34,720 SPEAKER_01: Wow, I hope that they are saying that uh to if 676 00:30:34,720 - > 00:30:37,680 they're looking for like a nice light lunch or a nice breakfast, 677 00:30:37,759 - > 00:30:39,279 they can come to the village bean. 678 00:30:39,440 - > 00:30:42,640 They're gonna get great coffee, they're gonna get home cooked 679 00:30:42,640 - > 00:30:45,440 food, they're gonna have a great, a great experience. 680 00:30:45,599 - > 00:30:48,640 You know, I hope that people really feel part of our 681 00:30:48,640 - > 00:30:51,839 community, even if they're just stopping by for the day by 682 00:30:51,839 - > 00:30:55,200 coming in and and sitting and having a coffee and having a 683 00:30:55,200 - > 00:30:56,319 bite to eat. 684 00:30:56,640 - > 00:31:01,759 Yeah, I hope that they get a glimpse into what it is to be uh 685 00:31:01,759 - > 00:31:02,799 in Merrickville. 686 00:31:03,279 - > 00:31:05,599 SPEAKER_00: And I'm curious if you look back at the last 15 687 00:31:05,599 - > 00:31:09,680 years as well, what has this community given to you that you 688 00:31:09,680 - > 00:31:11,920 never expected when you first bought the business? 689 00:31:12,720 - > 00:31:16,880 SPEAKER_01: I feel like uh being at the Village Bean has really 690 00:31:16,960 - > 00:31:20,160 uh given me a different sense of purpose. 691 00:31:20,640 - > 00:31:26,559 Um, you know, to be able to be here and connect with people and 692 00:31:26,559 - > 00:31:30,400 connect with our community and connect with our visitors and to 693 00:31:30,400 - > 00:31:34,400 be able to walk down the street and it takes me twice as long to 694 00:31:34,400 - > 00:31:36,960 get anywhere because you know, you're always running into 695 00:31:36,960 - > 00:31:41,039 people, you're always running into your new friends, you know. 696 00:31:41,200 - > 00:31:44,079 I I probably feel like I have far more friends now or 697 00:31:44,079 - > 00:31:50,079 acquaintance friends than than I I ever had before because I feel 698 00:31:50,079 - > 00:31:54,480 so well integrated um into the community. 699 00:31:54,640 - > 00:31:55,039 Yeah. 700 00:31:55,200 - > 00:31:58,480 So yeah, it's really I think it's really given me a sense of 701 00:31:58,480 - > 00:31:58,880 purpose. 702 00:31:59,519 - > 00:32:01,039 SPEAKER_00: I think it's beautiful. 703 00:32:01,519 - > 00:32:04,000 Um, so someone who's listening to this conversation right now, 704 00:32:04,079 - > 00:32:06,480 and whether they live in a small town or in a city, because we 705 00:32:06,480 - > 00:32:08,160 have a lot of city people listening as well. 706 00:32:08,480 - > 00:32:09,200 We love you too. 707 00:32:09,680 - > 00:32:10,160 SPEAKER_01: Absolutely. 708 00:32:10,480 - > 00:32:11,039 We do. 709 00:32:11,279 - > 00:32:14,880 SPEAKER_00: Um, what do you hope that they'll take away from the 710 00:32:14,880 - > 00:32:18,640 role that places like the village being play in our lives? 711 00:32:18,960 - > 00:32:21,920 SPEAKER_01: I think that it's more than it's more than the 712 00:32:21,920 - > 00:32:24,480 coffee, it's more than what you're what you have to sell. 713 00:32:24,559 - > 00:32:27,920 It's about the experience, it's about how you make people feel, 714 00:32:28,160 - > 00:32:32,720 if people feel seen and if people feel comfortable and and 715 00:32:32,720 - > 00:32:36,240 want to and want to return and make you part of their daily 716 00:32:36,240 - > 00:32:40,480 routine, you know, that it's a comfortable, uh, a comfortable 717 00:32:40,480 - > 00:32:41,039 place for them. 718 00:32:41,200 - > 00:32:44,960 I think it's more about how how you make people feel than what 719 00:32:44,960 - > 00:32:45,839 you're selling. 720 00:32:46,319 - > 00:32:47,599 SPEAKER_00: You do it very well, Robin. 721 00:32:47,759 - > 00:32:48,160 Thank you. 722 00:32:48,400 - > 00:32:50,319 Thank you so much for joining me for this conversation. 723 00:32:50,480 - > 00:32:53,440 I think this really was a beautiful, beautiful 724 00:32:53,440 - > 00:32:54,000 conversation. 725 00:32:54,079 - > 00:32:57,440 And I I think we the importance of what you're building as well 726 00:32:57,599 - > 00:33:00,480 is such a great example of what we can't lose in community. 727 00:33:00,720 - > 00:33:02,319 So thank you for being part of this. 728 00:33:02,640 - > 00:33:03,279 I am honored. 729 00:33:03,359 - > 00:33:04,480 Thank you so much. 730 00:33:07,119 - > 00:33:10,240 As I sat with this conversation afterwards, I found myself 731 00:33:10,240 - > 00:33:12,799 thinking about how often we measure the success of a 732 00:33:12,799 - > 00:33:16,720 business by the things that are easiest to count revenue, 733 00:33:16,960 - > 00:33:18,559 customers, growth. 734 00:33:19,200 - > 00:33:21,680 But the longer I spend talking to business owners in 735 00:33:21,680 - > 00:33:24,720 communities like Merrickville, the more I find myself wondering 736 00:33:24,720 - > 00:33:27,119 if we're sometimes measuring the wrong things. 737 00:33:27,440 - > 00:33:30,559 Because what struck me most about Robin's story is that the 738 00:33:30,559 - > 00:33:33,440 village bean has become valuable for reasons that have very 739 00:33:33,440 - > 00:33:34,880 little to do with coffee. 740 00:33:35,119 - > 00:33:38,240 It's become part of people's routines, part of their 741 00:33:38,240 - > 00:33:42,160 relationships, part of the experience of living in this 742 00:33:42,160 - > 00:33:42,960 community. 743 00:33:43,200 - > 00:33:46,799 And while that may not show up on a balance sheet, it might be 744 00:33:46,799 - > 00:33:50,160 one of the most powerful forms of value a business can create. 745 00:33:50,400 - > 00:33:53,200 The businesses that seem to leave the deepest mark on a 746 00:33:53,200 - > 00:33:56,480 community are rarely the ones that simply provide a product or 747 00:33:56,480 - > 00:33:57,440 a service. 748 00:33:57,680 - > 00:34:00,000 They're the ones that create a place where people want to 749 00:34:00,000 - > 00:34:04,319 return, where they feel welcome, where they feel connected. 750 00:34:04,559 - > 00:34:08,719 And over time, those businesses stop being places we visit and 751 00:34:08,719 - > 00:34:12,079 start becoming places that feel like they belong to all of us. 752 00:34:12,320 - > 00:34:16,239 Anyway, just something to noodle on until the next time we talk. 753 00:34:17,280 - > 00:34:19,440 Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories. 754 00:34:19,599 - > 00:34:21,920 If you've enjoyed today's conversation, make sure you're 755 00:34:21,920 - > 00:34:24,000 following the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 756 00:34:24,159 - > 00:34:27,119 And if you haven't done so yet, I'd be really grateful if you 757 00:34:27,280 - > 00:34:28,480 left a rating and review. 758 00:34:28,639 - > 00:34:30,880 It really helps more people discover the show. 759 00:34:31,119 - > 00:34:33,760 You can follow along on Instagram at the Small Town 760 00:34:33,840 - > 00:34:37,599 Stories Podcast and visit us online at the Small Town Stories 761 00:34:37,599 - > 00:34:38,800 Podcast.com. 762 00:34:39,519 - > 00:34:41,840 All right, I'll see you next Thursday for another 763 00:34:41,840 - > 00:34:45,039 conversation about the business behind Main Street.