LOVE IS ALL AROUND

As I was inside the idea tornado, decidedly ignoring the whole money issue, that thing happened to me.

You know the one. 
You buy a new car and you see 20 of them on the road the next day. You hear a song for the first time and then it's constantly played on the radio no matter what station.

I had this community grocery cafe shop idea and BOOM, I started to stumble upon them all.over.the.place.

Le Marche St. George

A few days after our exciting mom-evening a friend passed along a magazine, "Edible Vancouver", with a well written article about a few of the more successful neighbourhood shops. Le Marche St. George and The Mighty Oak were two that stood out for me. More cafe-like than grocery, but small, community minded and awesome.

Union Market

One local paper's article "Corner Stores Think Outside the Box", stated that "the corner stores that remain are thriving as they adapt to changing communities" and brought my attention to the Union Food Market in Strathcona.

Another local paper published an article, "Our Favourite Small Grocers" which stated "Grocery stores are morphing into catalysts for community togetherness" and "Some grocers have a mission to find community for themselves; some want to spread an organic and healthy lifestyle; and some are advocates for local and sustainable goods." 


BINGO.


They listed more than 15 different neighbourhood shops and there it was - brick and mortar. Other peoples brick and mortar, but still. A place to begin. 

Next up, road trip!