Madawaska Coffee Co. opens café in Barry’s Bay

Sarah and Neil Wright of Madawaska Coffee Co. announced their café expansion plans with a characteristically witty social media post entitled, “We’re spilling the beans.” On Saturday May 18 (Bay Day) their café opens at 19578 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay with Madawaska Valley Mayor Kim Love doing the official ribbon-cutting. Above from left: Madawaska Coffee Co. core team Joanne Hartwick, Noel Wright, Tiffany Yakabuskie with Neil and Sarah Wright (behind counter).

The Wrights said their business is focused on quality and freshness: “Our small independent roastery produces top-quality coffee of unparalleled freshness. Our main street café offers an assortment of coffee beverages made with our fresh roasted coffee as well as delicious hand-crafted sandwiches and desserts. Open Monday through Sunday our cafe is a cozy, inviting environment with access to free WiFi.”

Sarah and Neil feel shoppers and business people in the Bay will welcome their freshly made grab and go sandwiches and salads. Sarah said, “You’ll come in and order. By the time your coffee is ready, your sandwich is too.”

Beginnings

The Wrights launched Madawaska Coffee Co. in 2011, having come to the Valley to work at Madawaska Kanu Centre. They fell in love with the area and decided to stay. Great tasting coffee is important to both of them so a small roastery seemed like the perfect start-up concept. When they didn’t find the ideal space for a café, they concentrated on a wholesale business. Neil built that first roastery himself in a shed beside their home near the Madawaska River and then hit the road to tell Valley accommodators and restaurants about Madawaska Coffee Co. As the couple supplied coffee to support local community events, demand increased for freshly-roasted Madawaska Coffee. As the product range developed, their presence in retail outlets increased too.

They really appreciate their Valley customers. Sarah said,

Lots of businesses here support us – Spectacle Lake Lodge, Wilno Tavern, Heartwood Restaurant. Water Tower Lodge serves Madawaska Coffee, as does Valley Manor. They have all jumped on board.

With the growth of their business (and their young family!), the Wrights moved the coffee roastery into a commercial unit at 59 Kelly Street in Barry’s Bay. Again, Neil’s do-it-yourself skills came in handy. Then the roastery expanded and a small outdoor patio became a popular summer hangout. Meanwhile, they kept looking for that perfect café location. When the former Valley Living premises in downtown Barry’s Bay became available this March, they jumped into action.

Sarah and Neil updated their research by touring similar businesses in Eastern and Southern Ontario to settle on their own unique offering. Neil said, “We’ve looked at tons of different menu options and equipment.” Sarah said, “We want to have seasonal rotations every couple of months. There is a strong local market here so we look forward to partnering with local producers.”

The couple’s energy and do-it-yourself experience came into play again as, with friends and family, they refinished and redecorated the space. Local contractors installed an efficient kitchen and washrooms (including accessible) with seating for just over twenty patrons.

Sarah and Neil Wright in the café seating area, in front of a painting by Jordan Smith

Partnerships

As well as providing coffee for community events, Madawaska Coffee Co. produces custom roasts and private label brands for local organizations. The Bean coffee bar at St. Francis Memorial Hospital serves Madawaska Coffee and patrons at the Madawaska Valley Public Library can take home Readers’ Choice coffee to enjoy with a good book. Last Christmas Madawaska Coffee became available in unique gift canisters bearing images by local artists Joyce Burkholder, Kathy Haycock and Linda Sorensen (otherwise known as Wild Women, Painters of the Wilderness).

Neil and Sarah worked with local partners to design café décor that reflects Valley life. Handcrafted wooden furniture includes a massive bench by Coyote Log Homes and raw-edged white pine café table tops from Rockingham Tree Services. The café will host occasional community events in the café such as Pop Up Art Renfrew County (July 25 to August 11) that features work by eleven county artists.

Meticulous planning

Madawaska Coffee Co. always concentrated on staff training and development so adding a café did not change the management style. The roastery is structured to function on its own: staff members have specific responsibilities for roasting, packaging and sales. Neil says of the café, “We are in a very unique position. We can pull staff from the roastery and bring them over here, and vice versa.”  Every member of the team can make specialty coffee and is certified to handle food, so roastery staff are skilled to work at the café occasionally. Joanne Hartwick, a Red Seal chef, will manage the small commercial kitchen and handle on-site baking. Peak times will see growth in the Madawaska Coffee Co. core team of five.

Neil Wright (in orange) installs the café sign on May 15

Benefits to local economy

Sarah and Neil have experienced the impact of external factors on a local business. Neil said, “Last summer one of our café customers in Renfrew went out of business because of the downtown construction.” Their business model is flexible to adapt to changing market conditions. Sarah said,

Having a café might be just enough as a business, but having the roastery — with the wholesale business as well — balances it out and keeps people employed.

Neil and Sarah Wright demonstrate an ongoing commitment to community and have created a business focused on quality and freshness. Madawaska Coffee Co. is the result of their youthful energy and positive outlook.