When I first moved onto Mintie Road I was at the Halfmoon Bay General Store every single day. I didn’t know anyone that I wasn’t related to at that point on the Coast so the daily ritual of leaving the house and visiting the store was my first introduction to the community and the people in it. The warmth of the staff and repeated bump ins with neighbours ended up being essential for me to connect with my new home. I’m grateful every day I find myself in need of something, or like this week while totally snowed in, that they are just steps away.
As you may know there have been some big changes in the works. Peter Pearson and Kristen Annable were so kind to let me come and take a tour of the new and, in my opinion, extremely improved Halfmoon Bay General Store. It has been a long and complicated journey to get to this stage, but things are really taking shape, literally. Surrounded by scaffolding and paint samples I got to see for myself all the hard work and consideration they have put into this neighbourhood anchor.
While it may look brand new the footprint will feel familiar. The general store and café will take up the main floor. They are bringing back the famed Ice Cream Window at the front in the hatch space they have created. They are hoping to have this hatch space open earlier than the store to accommodate those on the go early in the mornings. The hatch will provide high quality coffee, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and potentially bagged lunches ahead of the store opening. The rest of the main floor will be a hybrid café and general store with seating at the back and a bright waterfront patio. The café tables are constructed from the old floor of the original store, keeping pieces of its own history alive.
Upstairs will have a prep kitchen, office space and most exciting of all, a community space. Peter and Kristen dream of holding small-scale events in this area, which sits above, overlooking the store with beautiful ocean views to the rear. There are endless possibilities for this space, including the dream of collaborating with local chefs and farms to host long table dinners, working with artists and musicians to hold community workshops or hosting gallery viewings.
The business will be more focused than ever on being hyper local, in their products and evolution as a business. They have done a fantastic job in bringing in several local brands already, but they want to expand their offerings in the new space as much as possible. They want it to have a farmers market feel with as many local products, produce, wares and collaborations as possible.
The food program for the café is still in the works, a lot of what they want to accomplish will depend on the staff they can attract. They are getting invaluable help from community members who have stepped up to consult but it will be those with their boots on the ground that will be the ones to execute all these big ideas.
The store is aiming to reopen early this summer. The opening will be a fluid process as they iron out their systems and get community feedback. Community feedback was at the forefront of our conversation, they want to hear about what our needs are and how they can best run their business to meet them. Most pressing now is putting out the word that more good staff are needed to make all this a reality, in particular someone to take the helm of the food service operation. They welcome applicants and feedback through their Facebook, Instagram or via email at [email protected].
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any upcoming events to be featured or want to connect about all things happening in Halfmoon Bay. Kyla Trethewey, columnist and Halfmoon Bay Firefighter #36.
