Your Local Valentine

For local businesses the winter months seem daunting as people go into hibernation and stop exploring their downtown. But Valentine’s Day gives a mid-winter boost to flower shops, restaurants and local cafes.

Patti Hollenberg, owner of the Chess Piece Café and Patisserie, says that they see three times as much clientele on Valentine’s Day as any other day of the year.

“Some people are preemptive and order ahead of time, but I would say maybe about 80 per cent of the time it is just customers who walk through the door,” says Hollenberg.

To keep up with demand Hollenberg and her staff spend the days before prepping extra sweets to ensure the display cases are always stocked with fresh goods.

Downtown resident Andrea says that she thinks supporting local businesses is important. She enjoys the originality that comes along with shopping locally.

“I love seeing local talent through the businesses. You don’t always get that when you go into a department store. You don’t see any artisan stuff.”

Andrea says that she feels pride each time she supports local.

“When you go to a local business you can really find character and integrity there and I like that a lot,” she says.

A piece of this integrity comes from the café entering a year long partnership with United way. Each month the café advertises a special in support of the charity. In February two dollars from every box of macarons sold is donated to United Way.

There are new flavours of macarons for Valentine’s Day which caused a boost in sales. Flavours like amaretto cherry, sweet chili and orange rose are displayed all month.

Hollenberg says that thanks to supporters like Andrea she believes her cafe will be around for years to come.

“This is our fifth winter operating but our anniversary is July 11. So we’ll be five years old this July,” said Hollenberg.

For Hollenberg it is the loyal customers and love of great food that makes her heart flutter every Valentine’s Day.