Cathy Dobson Jess Haughton and Renee Corry say their approach to business is winning the trust of area craftspeople and proving a collective for handmade goods can be successful in Sarnia. Parallel Junction has been open two months, and even at this traditionally slow time of the retail year it’s working for them and their… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Jessica and Iain Farrell say they could never have opened a restaurant this early in their careers if it weren’t for The Refined Fool. “In this industry, it’s hard to get off the ground without a lot of resources,” says Iain. But the young couple found efficiencies when they opened their March Hare… Read more »
Cathy Dobson When Crystal Tilson started a part-time job at a Sarnia pottery studio called Crock A Doodle she saw it as a good way to ease back into the working world. It quickly became a passion in which she could combine her love of business, marketing and art. “I was in a really bad… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Chrissy McRoberts still calls her favourite coffee shop by its proper name – Blackwater. But she could also call it her office, and even her showroom. Many mornings she’s perched near the front of the downtown café, sipping coffee at a 6’6” long table she made from recycled construction lumber. She custom-built the… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Local developer Patrick Coutu gives James Currie a lot of credit for seeing the potential in an old building. “He signed a letter of intent when this place looked very different,” Coutu said of the project he undertook at 117 Christina St. with partner Jim Pumple. “It’s now been completely gutted and rebuilt… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Weeks before the opening of their new clothing store in Point Edward, Patti and Gary Prowse are hard at work laying the flooring. Spring has sprung and it’s hot. But they can’t get over how good the washed grey laminate looks. “Everything is falling into place perfectly,” says Patti. “As soon as I saw… Read more »
Cathy Dobson A Sarnia couple is converting the former Chipican Restaurant into a new grillhouse and lounge, with a nod to the memories the building holds for so many locals. “I remember as a little girl in the ‘70s seeing the flames coming up from the barbecue pit,” says Laurie Frayne, who bought the closed… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Judging by the number of potential developers beating a path to Point Edward’s municipal office lately, there could be a substantial investment in the village soon. What’s all-but-certain is that Hamilton-based Vrancor Group will break ground in months on a $20-million Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Venetian Boulevard. It will be sandwiched… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Ryan Lindsay and Andy Powell say they live a laptop lifestyle. They use their computers to find just about every product and service they need, and make their living with digital expertise. “We’ve been nomadic because we can be, says Lindsay, 36. “We’ve worked from Florida, from Toronto, from the west coast.” But the… Read more »
Cathy Dobson Businessman and lifelong village resident Stephen Jay has big plans to revitalize Point Edward’s commercial strip on Michigan Avenue. “People are saying they want choice and they want quality products. We hope to bring a lot more retail to that area,” says Jay, who owns several lots on the south side of Michigan… Read more »
