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.
Featured this Week:
Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre, Gravenhurst Website: www.realmuskoka.com
If you have been to or through Muskoka, there’s a good chance you will recognize the stunning Muskoka Steamships – the Wennonah II and the Segwun. Resting peacefully at the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst for most of the year, these humble, but majestic ships have been offering up public cruises through the major Lakes of Muskoka for decades. With an impressive heritage that spans the entire history of Gravenhurst … literally – the Steamships first set sail in 1866, while Gravenhurst was founded 21 years later in 1887 – the Steamships have been attracting visitors from the around the world to our mini slice of heaven here in Muskoka.
With 2020 however, came COVID-19 and that meant the Steamships had to make the difficult decision to close and cancel their early-season cruises. Locals grew to miss the familiar ship whistle ringing through town as the ships used to come and go from the Wharf. But, with hard work and dedication, the stellar team behind the Steamships and Discovery Centre introduced some new Safety Measures for passengers and were able to resume public cruises on August 1st.
With touch-free temperature checks and pre-cruise screening and contact-tracing, reduced passenger capacity, increased staff training, cleaning and sanitizing along with mandatory masks, physical social distancing and more, the Steamships have really stepped their game up to ensure a safe experience for all who choose to enjoy a cruise this summer.
We would like to acknowledge and give props to the team at the Steamships for their perseverance and their commitment to safety. This certainly has not been an easy or straight forward summer, to be clear, so we’re proud to see the Steamships up and running again and have heard nothing by glowing response from those we know who have already sailed this summer. Way to go to all involved and wishing you a successful, albeit shortened, sailing season and all the best moving forward.
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.
For this, our 20th week of MBW Shout Outs, we’re heading to Torrance, Ontario to feature PIE, the Wood-Fired Pizza Joint.
First opened in 2016, PIE was built in an old boat garage on what many see only as a scarcely populated stretch of road between Gravenhurst and Bala. But after some hard work and ingenuity, PIE created a unique space for locals and visitors alike. And they must be doing something right as they’ve served over 200,000+ pizzas since 2016. From the Pepperoni Classic to the Masi Caprese and Green Egg & Ham, they offer a wide variety of unique pizza pies that are sure to offer something for everyone.
Just as it affected everyone else however. Covid-19 came along and forced PIE to rely solely on their takeout service after an initial 14-day closure. Fortunately, with a great team in place, PIE was able to navigate their way through the various re-opening phases and are still doing everything they can to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for their patrons. They have been able to expand on their service options and are doing what they do best: slinging delicious pizzas! They told us how grateful they were for the ongoing support of the community and their stellar team.
Well, we want to congratulate PIE and acknowledge their amazing team for all their hard work and commitment to their business, obviously, but also to serving the community. Delicious, fresh, hot pizza can be a huge mood enhancer and during these tough times, there can never be too many of those. Way to go guys – keep up the terrific work!
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 less than a kilometre from Bala Falls, Cottage Cravings boasts an award-winning café and gift shop and has been serving locals, cottagers and visitors alike in Bala for over 8 years. Offering a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, coffee, ice cream, frozen yogurt, baked goods, a deli counter and an assortment of ready-to-make frozen meals, Cottage Cravings has been hard at work to keep the community well fed!
In March when the pandemic first began to affect businesses here in Muskoka – and throughout the rest of Ontario and Canada – Cottage Cravings braced for what would be a unique summer ahead. Driven by a passion to serve community, they endured to offer take out and expanded upon their selection of frozen meals which enabled them to continue to support essential workers, local contractors and seniors. They installed barriers, sanitized between guests and did everything they could to ensure a safe environment for their team and patrons.
Once permitted to re-open their patio, Cottage Cravings worked with the local municipality of Muskoka Lakes to expand their patio and even introduce an outdoor hand-washing station. As something like this was not mandated or required, it serves to demonstrate their willingness to go above and beyond for their patrons.
We spoke with the owners, Randy & Henny Brown, who remain humble through all of these challenges. They were quick to tell us that without the hard work and dedication of their amazing team that none of it would be possible.
Well, we’re blown away by all the effort that Randy, Henny and their whole team have made to be there for their community and want to recognize and acknowledge that through this Muskoka Bear Wear Shout Out. It certainly makes us feel proud to share the community with such awesome people! Way to go guys!
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.
The Muskoka Drive-In Theatre, located just on the outskirts of Gravenhurst, Ontario has been a draw for movie-lovers for decades. Having first opened in 1952, it is one of, if not the longest-continually-running drive-in movie theatre in all of Canada. Surrounded by indigenous birch and pine trees, the original screen was built on a concrete wall and nestled on beautiful Canadian Shield granite rock. Alongside a children’s playground, a snack bar, box office – and as of 2018, a second screen – The Muskoka Drive-In Theatre offers fun and nostalgia for the whole family.
When the global pandemic first hit, the Muskoka Drive-In was still closed for the Winter season. But as Spring rolled in and hopes to open the Drive-In as per their regular schedule took shape, that’s when they knew things would be different this year. Firstly, they needed to wait for permission to allow Drive-In Theatres to open. When that finally came, it also brought with it several new guidelines and rules that they would need to follow in order to ensure the safety of visitors.
Not afraid of the challenge, The Muskoka Drive-In Theatre stepped up in a big way to meet those guidelines and has been going above and beyond to ensure a safe and fun experience for visitors this year. The opening night for the Drive-In was back on June 4th and on June 25th they were able to re-open the Snack Bar. Things like the playground and mini-putt remain closed to the public for the time being, but, film-lovers and those who miss being able to go see a movie on the big screen have been treated to a sensational lineup of classic movies this Summer. The nostalgic films have included Jurassic Park, Shrek, Back to the Future, Jaws, Grease, Footloose, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and many more.
We want to acknowledge and applaud the Muskoka Drive-In Theatre for their hard work and commitment to serving community. As big movie-fans ourselves, we certainly appreciate that the local Drive-In is available to us and our families. Thank you for all you’re doing!!
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!
