The Cranberry Portage Coffee Shop has been a popular hangout for many area residents since opening nearly two years ago.
But recent renovations have owner Rick Smale gearing up for a grand opening.
Smale says new flooring, carpentry work and exhaust fans have the Portage Road brew house ready for a Feb. 14 grand opening.
Smale received help with the renovations from Cranberry Portage’s Frontier Collegiate Institute carpentry program.
“They spent hours sanding floors and laying down other flooring,” said Smale. “They did a beautiful job, excellent work.”
Along with the renovations, Smale says the Coffee Shop’s kitchen has new deep fryers.
“That will help speed up our service considerably,” the owner said.
The shop has a full menu of breakfast, lunch, supper and snack items, with its best seller being a clubhouse sandwich. The Valentine’s Day grand opening will feature a prime rib supper.
New customers
The shop has been open since May 2013, but Smale says he hopes the grand opening will bring in new costumers.
The business is a licensed establishment that operates from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week.
Opening a restaurant was a new venture for Smale, a bus driver for Frontier Collegiate, but it was a challenge he was ready for.
“I [saw] a need for change in [Cranberry Portage],” he said.
With help from his girlfriend and cook in the Coffee Shop, Ellen Richardson, Smale dove into the business world.
“I haven’t been in this type of business before,” said Smale, “but I’ve lived in Cranberry all my life. I know everyone in the area and I know the needs of the town.”
The Cranberry Portage Coffee Shop also sells clothing and magazines.