Mama Sitas in Winlaw

Mama Sitas in Winlaw

Introducing the Mama Sita’s dream team owners: Helen, Steve and Lee. As you can see, Lee’s baby is the one who really runs the show…(look at that cute and very serious face!!). These three passionate new business owners all used to work at Mama Sita’s and when the previous owner decided to sell...they banded together to save the restaurant and all of their jobs.

It’s been an incredible and rewarding challenge to keep Mama Sita’s running, especially since COVID hit four months after they bought it. But the positivity and passion oozing from these three is obviously how they made it all work. They say they’ve received really great feedback from the community and their team has been loyal and supportive.

Helen, Lee and Steve absolutely love supporting their community and feel supported in return. They’re more than a team, they’re a quirky little family that is proud to run this incredible Winlaw hub.

When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Helen, Steve and Lee. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley

Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.

 


New Market Foods in New Denver

New Market Foods in New Denver



Although the village of New Denver already gave a warm welcome to the new owners of New Market Foods on February 2, we hope you will join us in welcoming them as well! Say hello to Teresa, the proud new owner of New Market Foods, along with her husband Kieth. For 16 years, Teresa sold insurance and Kieth worked remotely at camp jobs.

Born and raised in New Denver (same as the previous owners!), this couple was thrilled to embark on a new business adventure in their hometown and provide this essential service to the community.

Teresa says they’ve received the warmest welcome and since they’re newbies at running a grocery store, it’s been a big undertaking. But the couple is happy to be living their new dream in what they say is paradise (we couldn’t agree more!).

When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Teresa and Kieth. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley

Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.

 


Maple Leaf Store in Crescent Valley

Maple Leaf Store in Crescent Valley



Meet Kulvinder, owner of Maple Leaf Store in Crescent Valley. He’s been running this neighbourhood gas station and convenience store for almost 11 years.

He escaped the big city to the quiet of the Slocan Valley and has never looked back. The store itself is over 100 years old and its history is honoured on the walls of the store. Kulvinder even has customers that remember it from over 70 years ago!

Kulvinder loves running the store. 70-80 percent of his customers are regulars and he loves being able to provide a service to his community. Maple Leaf Store offers necessities and goodies like liquor and cigarette sales, groceries, lotto sales, gas, diesel, propane and a car wash.

When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Kulvinder. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley

Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.

 


Ice Creek Lodge

Ice Creek Lodge




Say hi to Courtney and Russell, owners of Ice Creek Lodge! This innovative couple took the lemons of COVID-19 and turned them into delicious lemonade. Losing their clientele from the south turned into an opportunity to provide ski and snowboard backcountry tours to small groups of locals, gave them time to come up with exciting summer programming and finish their guest house, The Col Guesthouse, in downtown Slocan Village.

This summer, you’ll be able to rent paddle boards from there as well as book their main summer offering - a guided three-day hike on the Valhalla Traverse from Drinnon Pass to Ice Creek Lodge, located in the northwest corner of Valhalla Park. Ice Creek Lodge now has hike-in access from Burton, thanks to the amazing staff and kids at the Valhalla Wilderness Program. This labour of love was done over many years with lots of kids, big and small.

Courtney and Russell are true Slocan Valley community icons. As Russell says, he got to build his business WITH his community. And it’s been very important to them to market an experience, not a place. Along with their two kids as little helpers, this couple has been running their business since 2005 and now with Col Guesthouse open, it means they and their guests put even more money right back into the community’s grocery store and other businesses to power their adventures.

When you choose local, you support business owners like Courntey and Russell. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley

Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.

 


Gaia Tree in Winlaw

Gaia Tree in Winlaw

 

Meet the entire team at your favourite neighbourhood Gaia Tree Whole Foods Community Market! This magical little gem was started nearly 15 years ago by Grigg Stone and Eric Twitty, when they were inspired to offer organic food in the heart of the lower valley, in Winlaw.

They they call it the ‘biggest little health food store’ because it’s a small space packed with a lot of variety...from fresh organic, often local produce, organic bulk grains, flours, teas, herbs and spices to all your natural/organic foods, dairy, pet food, personal care, vitamins etc. Gaia Tree is a place where the community gathers around healthy food and wellness, not to mention catch the latest word-of-mouth valley news! Grigg says creating this community space is a reward in and of itself.

Gaia Tree employs eight staff people. Grigg says they’re an awesome team who work hard collectively to keep things running smoothly. This past year, since COVID has kept people close to home, has been a boon to their business. Grigg says that truly, shopping locally is so important to keep the local economy alive.

When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Grigg and Eric (and their staff!). And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley

Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.