In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
Located at 1295 Muskoka Road South in Gravenhurst, Melody’s Muskoka Ice Cream is hard to miss because of it’s bright blue-turquoise exterior. It’s also hard to miss because of just how amazing their ice cream and frozen treats are! Having first opened in the Spring/Summer of 2019, Melody’s offers a wide variety of frozen delights including Kawartha Dairy ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits and the newly introduced homemade ice cream pies that have been flying off the shelf!
As the pandemic came along, Melody’s wasn’t sure what 2020 would have in store, or whether they would be able to open at all. With community safety in mind, they struggled with what the responsible decision might be. After reflection and support from family, friends and the community, Melody’s decided to step up to the challenge, adapt their service delivery and open to the public.
Opening their doors this summer in the Covid-19 world has meant an increase in operating costs, but Melody’s has not increased their prices as to accommodate for everyone having a tough go this year. So while they opened one month later than 2019 and have seen their margins thin out, they’ve been busy since opening and are just excited to be serving up plenty of smiles.
We want to acknowledge and thank Melody’s Muskoka Ice Cream for their thoughtfulness when it comes to our community and the hard work that has gone into operating through these tough times. Giving people something to smile for and get excited about is super important right now and you’re doing a fantastic job! Congratulations to your entire team!!
If you know a local business who deserves a shout out, send us a direct message with a photo and why they should be featured. #StayComfy
In response to the challenging times that we are experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give props to some stellar local businesses who are stepping up to serve our great community.
“Arrive with confidence, assured of great food, service and ambiance. Leave tasting life to the fullest.”
3 GUYS And A Stove in Huntsville, Ontario has been wowing visitors for years with their fresh and unique take on casual-fine dining. Their menu showcases multi-level seasoning and multi-layered flavours which are applied to real, honest comfort foods that are healthy, aromatic and addictingly good. From the spice and aroma of the Caribbean, a dash of Southeast Asia and a good dose of southern comfort food, they keep it simple and simply delicious.
As the effects of the pandemic began reaching Ontario and Muskoka, 3 GUYS made the difficult, albeit socially responsible decision to temporarily close the restaurant in mid-March. That did not mean they were not still thinking about the community however, and how they could continue to serve. They participated in the Stay @ Home Gala in May and launched an exciting new project altogether with the On Focaccia Food Truck. By late-May, 3 GUYS began offering Takeout for Curbside Pickup, and now just this week, as the Province enters the next stage of the Re-Opening Framework, 3 GUYS is preparing to re-open their doors for dine-in service.
We want to commend the entire team at 3 GUYS for their hard work and dedication to the community. Their passion for food and serving the community has been shining through these challenging times and been a beacon of inspiration. Way to go guys! We hope Friday is a success and wishing you all the best through the rest of the summer!
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“From poutine to steak on a bun, we have something for everyone in the family!”
Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Gravenhurst, just next to The Bike Shop and steps away from the Gravenhurst Opera House, is the famously PINK Shelby’s Chipwagon. But their love for all things pink isn’t all they’re famous for… Shelby’s is known for having some the best fresh cut fries & poutines you’ll ever find! And not only is Shelby’s famous for the quality of food, but they’re also known for the quantity… as Shelby’s promises you will NEVER leave hungry!
Owned and operated by Sherry for over 21 years, Shelby’s was featured in a live theatre production ‘Scenes From My Dock!‘; received a mention on the late Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Café; and has even welcomed some pretty famous Canadians including Sarah McLachlan & Megan Fellows.
Of course, much like all small businesses, Shelby’s was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and they were forced to adapt to the unique challenges that presented themselves. From the evolving landscape of food suppliers, to acquiring the necessary PPE and modifying their service delivery, Shelby’s tackled these challenges head-on and worked hard to be able to open for the 2020 Summer. They’ve built a loyal, passionate fan base in Gravenhurst – and beyond – and they were committed to not letting anyone down.
“Not only do you guys put a smile in tummies, but I’ve got a huge one in my heart from you today.” – Review from a satisfied Shelby’s visitor.
When we see local businesses stepping up to face these unprecedented challenges AND are working hard to serve our community, we think that’s just awesome. Giving something for people to be excited about or look forward to during these tough times is vital. We’d like to acknowledge and congratulate Shelby’s on all of their hard work and dedication to that cause.
If you’ve got a craving for a poutine, burger, steak on a bun or just some incredible fresh cut fries, head down to Shelby’s Chipwagon immediately!
If you know a local business who deserves a shout out, send us a direct message with a photo and why they should be featured.
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
Moose Delaney’s Sports Bar & Grill is located at 3 Cann Street in Huntsville and typically offers fun for the whole family. Before COVID-19, Moose Delaney’s was a great place to meet before, during or after the big game. You could relax and enjoy your favourite draft and signature menu items while watching the game on one of their 10 large-screen televisions. They even have billiards tables, arcade games, lunch & dinner specials and kids could eat free every Tuesday.
Like practically everywhere else however, the pandemic forced Moose Delaney’s to adapt and they have really stepped up. They are currently offering a special menu for Curbside Pick-Up Wednesday to Saturday 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM so that you can continue to enjoy all of your favourite pub fare classics. We highly recommend the poutine!
It is also worth recognizing that not only have they stepped up during this difficult time, but also that they recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary. An incredible milestone for a hardworking, community-focused team and organization. Happy 25th Moose Delaney’s – and keep up the stellar work!! Way to go!
Located at 390 Ecclestone Drive in Bracebridge, Seasons in the Country offers a beautiful Garden Centre, Florist & Gift Shop and Landscaping Service. First opened in 1986, Seasons in the Country is entering their third season under new ownership with – Stacey & Winston Miller, Will Miller and Christine Alexander.
Early on during the COVID-19 closures, Seasons in the Country was forced to close their physical location but continued to serve our wonderful community through call-in orders, offering curbside pick-up and even local delivery. It was a tremendous amount of work taking photos of everything and finding new ways to allow people to choose the seeds and products they wanted, but Seasons in the Country rose to the challenge.
Today, now that the Province has allowed them to re-open, Seasons in the Country has again stepped up and put safety first with a long list of safety measures and procedures at their Garden Centre and Flower Shop. They offer hand sanitizer to patrons, have installed plexi-glass at the cash areas, put up signage indicating flow through the space, limited the number of patrons at a given time, opened a side entrance and more as they prioritize safety for visitors and their team. They have also re-opened their Landscaping service with several safety measures in place as well. Additionally, they still offer curbside pick-up and local delivery for those who request it.
It is truly inspiring to see the thoughtfulness and effort that Seasons in the Country has taken to allow our community access to the tools & supplies they need to tend to their gardens at home. For all your perennial and annual floral needs and so much more, we encourage you to connect with Seasons in the Country and applaud their remarkable effort to serve community through these tough times.
In 1959, Fritz and Ursula Rebelein and their family moved to Gravenhurst and purchased a small bakery business at 141 Brock Street. The original business came equipped with a small pizza oven for baking and an old bathtub for washing dishes. The business grew over the years and so did the family. Five children were raised playing and working in the back of the Bakery. In 1974 their oldest child Peter and his wife Judy purchased the business from Fritz and Ursula. Peter and Judy continued to use and increase the tried and true family recipes that had brought them so much success over the years. They too, raised their two children, Jay and Robyn playing and working in the back of the bakery and to this day they are both a very intricate part of the family business.
Like any good strong business, The Bakery has committed to hard work, dedication, quality control, and being versatile to change as trends come and go. Their secret is consistency, listening to their customers, and always being willing to go the extra mile.
In 2019, the Rebelein family celebrated their 60th year serving our wonderful community.
On May 7th, after having been closed due to the pandemic, The Bakery re-opened their doors, much to the delight of their dedicated patrons! They installed a Quick Service Express Window for quick, safe orders as well as installed plexi-glass screening and put signage in place to encourage social distancing and flow through their space. They are now open Thursday – Sunday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
We want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Rebelein family for their long-standing success and applaud them for their adaptability to update their service delivery during these tough times. They are ensuring that families throughout Muskoka can continue to enjoy all their favourite treats and sweets from The Bakery in Gravenhurst.
If you know a local business who deserves a shout out, send us a direct message with a photo and why they should be featured.
• And Remember • #StayHome #StayHealthy #StayComfy
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“Muskoka Furniture – Where the Customer Feels at Home.”
Located at 195 Wellington Street in Bracebridge, Muskoka Furniture boasts an 11,000-sq ft showroom that features solid wood furniture built by skilled craftsmen from all over Ontario. Each piece of furniture is heirloom quality radiating a feeling of warmth and comfort and it is no wonder why they have become a destination store, drawing visitors from across southern Ontario.
Like many businesses however, Muskoka Furniture was forced to close their showroom to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They did not let that keep them down for long however as they made themselves available for phone orders for curbside pick-up and home delivery. Muskoka Furniture rose to the challenge and worked tremendously hard to adapt to the times by shooting video of their showroom, sharing it on their website & Facebook Page and continued to offer exceptional customer service to their patrons.
We would like to acknowledge Muskoka Furniture and their entire team for their hard work and dedication to serving our great community. It is incredible the things we can achieve when we work together and work towards the greater good of the community.
“It all starts with the layer closest to your skin.”
Situated right in the heart of downtown Bracebridge, Little Black Bow is a beautiful Lingerie & Bra Fitting Boutique. They also proudly carry a wide variety of bridal, maternity, activewear, sleepwear and loungewear.
Through the challenges presented by these difficult times, Little Black Bow has turned to digital innovation to adapt their business. They now offer Virtual Fittings as a whole new way of helping their clients and have paired that with online shopping, shipping and local, contactless porch drops.
We think this kind of innovation and commitment to serving our community is inspirational and we want to acknowledge Little Black Bow and their team for their incredible work. They take “support local” to a totally different level. Way to go guys!
Located in downtown Gravenhurst at 260 Muskoka Road South, The Butcher’s Daughters is a Café, Deli and General Store that specializes in gourmet grocery items, fresh and frozen take home meals, unique sandwiches, soups, salads and specialty coffee.
Though it has been a challenge with having to close their doors to the public through the pandemic, The Butcher’s Daughters has not only done a tremendous job serving community through their curbside pick-ups – AND allowing the public to order grocery items through their wholesaler – but they have also gone above and beyond with their support towards Gravenhurst Against Poverty (GAP). Through a collaboration with Well Fed, The Oar & Relish (all from Gravenhurst), these restauranteurs have been preparing boxed lunches for GAP and their food bank.
We think it is awesome to hear that The Butcher’s Daughters has been able to adapt their service delivery to continue to serve the community, but we are just blown away to hear that even through these tough times, that they are teaming up with other local businesses to support such a great charity like GAP. What an inspiration for the rest of us. Way to go guys!
