DBIA Featured Post: Hobart's Steakhouse

In 2012, Ken Found and Frank Peters were looking to expand their steakhouse Hobart's. Thirteen years earlier, Ken as the principal owner and Frank as the Executive Chef and Operations Manager created Lindsay, Ontario’s premier steak restaurant located in the heart of downtown.

After searching for a location that offered visibility, accessibility, and the opportunity to expand, Ken and Frank found just that at 139 Hunter St W in downtown Peterborough. After some expansive renovations to the 150+ year old landmark, they were able to create the upscale, yet casual restaurant they were looking for.

Named after Frank’s father—who was a respected beef cattle producer and marketer with a PhD—Hobart’s Steakhouse has become a go-to steakhouse in downtown Peterborough. It's a place where you can feel the comfortable and inviting atmosphere as soon as you come through the doors! Still on the renovation list is a private 24 seat wine cellar dining room to be finished later on this year that will only add to the incredible experience.

Specializing in Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Brand steaks, Hobart’s is a step above the competition. In 2013, Frank was named by the CAB Brand as an ambassador signifying a superior level of expertise in the brand and beef quality standards in general. As one can imagine, the menu centers on the almighty steak, but it is not limited to the idea of focusing on just high quality red meat only options.

Also available on their broad menu is a variety of chicken, veal and seafood dishes, as well as an incredible array of soups/salads and an appetizer menu that is sure to please any palate. The atmosphere Hobart’s offers is one that is casually elegant. Diners will feel immediately comfortable in its warm setting and use it for any occasion whether it is a meal before heading to the theatre, a Petes or Lakers game, a meeting with business partners, or anything in between. They have always worked with the philosophy that “We dress up, but you don’t have to.”

The new downtown Peterborough location suits Hobart’s well, as they believe they are in the company of many other amazing quality independently owned restaurants and bars, each with its own unique set of
options. They believe that Hunter St. offers a great central location within walking distance of every great shopping and entertainment venue that you could want to visit. The building they were lucky enough to find
is extremely beautiful and represents the history and quality that the restaurant and its owners would like to be associated with.

The Lindsay location has been a proud supporter of many worthy causes in its community with the contribution of many gift certificates for charitable endeavors. The United Way, Women’s Resources awareness campaigns, and Ross Memorial Hospital have all had campaigns that Hobart’s have been a part of. With their new location now in Peterborough, they intend to follow the tradition of giving in this community as well.

Ken and Frank invite you to come down to Hobart’s no matter the occasion and experience their world class restaurant!

For more on Hobarts (139 Hunter St W), go to:
Website: Hobarts
Phone number: 705.775.4000

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

New Giant Tiger Location Near Peterborough Slated To Open In June

Update: April 25th, 2014 - The Grand Opening has been moved up to May 10th.

Giant Tiger (currently at 2704 Lakefield Road) has a new location under construction (at 2657-2667 Lakefield Road) that will be much larger—18,557 square feet—and offer much more parking. The grand opening is Saturday, June 7th. The current location is next to the Selwyn Outreach Centre, and they will be moving across the street and up the road to this larger location.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

DBIA Featured Post: Circus

One of the great things about downtown Peterborough is that it houses the most unique shops in the area, and there are so many of them. Hardly anything is cookie cutter, and that is exactly what makes the neighborhood work. Another example of a shop that embodies this unique feeling is Circus, newly located at 382 George St N.

Previously located on Aylmer St, just on the outskirts of downtown, Circus made its big move at the end of July in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. Chris Norgan owned the original shop, and has since been joined by Steve Francis to form a partnership that works incredibly well for the both of them. With Chris’s wealth of experience in the industry and Steve’s expansive small business knowledge, they have combined their visions to create a great working relationship.

Circus is anything but a traditional shop. It focuses on art, rare historic furniture, and accent home décor pieces that you won’t find anywhere else! Just one step inside this unique store, and you’ll discover this immediately. Chris’s keen eye for exclusive pieces and buying contacts located in big cities like New York and Philadelphia are allowing him to bring in items you literally won’t find anywhere else.

Circus is like an anti-IKEA; it has an old-school fashion feel to it, regularly showcasing pieces produced from the 1920s to the 1950s. Their chairs, tables, dressers, hutches and cupboards aren’t of your everyday run of the mill variety. Vintage is key, and Chris and Steve both know this. They are constantly bringing in carefully selected new lines to display and put their names behind each and every one.

The store has an undeniable upscale vibe to it. Its location and layout with a great second floor allow Steve and Chris to set the shop up in an incredible way that enhances the products look and feel. You could literally spend hours walking through it, checking out the incredible selection. They know this is the kind of stuff you would expect to find in a big city and are happy to be able to supply it to our community. They also take great pride in the fact they are a very green reuse recycle store.

The men are very happy to have been able to relocate to the city’s downtown core, and have made it a point to continue to be involved in the community. They happily donate to the community and have been proud sponsors of the YMCA in the past. More recently, they have also been the setting of book readings by Peterborough’s own Jeff Macklin.

They invite you to come down and discover Circus—it's something you might not have known existed in our great downtown!

For more on Circus (188 Hunter St W), go to:
Website: CircusPeterborough.com
Facebook: CircusTrip
Twitter: @Circusshop

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Dragons' Den Auditions January 29th At Trent University

photo via CBC Dragons' Den website

Auditions for CBC's hit show Dragons' Den take place January 29th at Trent University, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lady Eaton College, The Pit Parking Lot M. Producers are also accepting online applications.

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DBIA Featured Post: YoYo's Yogurt Café

Small businesses are run by people who are passionate about what they do. Often times, these owners take a leap of faith and leave a stable career behind to take on something they’ve always wanted to do. For them, the rewards far outweigh the risks. Yo Yo's Yogurt Cafe owners Ted and Carol-Anne Detmers are a perfect example of this.

Located in the trendy Hunter Street Café district, the café can be found at 188 Hunter St W Unit 8, a short walk into the Chamber St. Municipal Parking Lot between Burrow and Kouture Hair Studio. The café is built into an aesthetically pleasing location, combining 100-year-old brick walls with the modernist, colourful features characteristic of frozen yogurt cafés. Ted and Carol-Anne put all of the work into the café themselves, and used as many recycled materials as they could to keep the process as green as possible.

YoYo’s Yogurt Café originated in London, Ont., and was the first Canadian self-serve frozen yogurt chain of its kind. As the name suggests, YoYo’s offers more than 80 different individual flavours of yogurt or sorbet that, when combined with some of the 50 toppings available, yield the promise of a healthy snack or a guilty pleasure treat. All yogurts and sorbets are fresh frozen based and flavoured in house. Toppings include fresh fruits, a variety of candies and chocolates, and even the famous popping bobas—the signature ingredient in bubble tea.

Customers have not one but two different ways to enjoy their frozen yogurt at YoYo’s: a “Yo-Blend” smoothie or a “Yo-Bowl” of yogurt. Each order is paid by weight, with the option of adding protein to your smoothie. A few popular flavours worth trying out include: green apple sorbet, cookie dough, birthday cake and the ever-popular chocolate and vanilla—and they are all non-fat!

As the season changes from winter to spring and summer, YoYo’s will open up its spacious patio to add to the bustling café district’s atmosphere. Even with the cold season at hand, Carol-Anne and Ted say that they have a dedicated group of amazing customers that is steadily growing and spreading the word about them! Very shortly, they will also be introducing a “YoYo to GoGo” option that will allow their customers to take home a tub of their favourite yogurt or sorbet flavour(s).

Carol-Anne and Ted grew up in Peterborough and have been dedicated members of the community for years. They have recently joined the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, and have been long time supporters of the city’s youth soccer scene. Ted was a coach in the rep and house league, and he and Carol-Anne were also conveners for a few house league divisions. They encourage all soccer players to visit the café for a post-game treat.

Open 7 days a week, Carol-Anne and Ted invite you to come in and taste the difference! Once you experience their fresh products, clean environment, and friendly atmosphere, you’ll never look at frozen yogurt the same way again! Once you’re hooked, their “Berry Loyal” loyalty program will give you another reason to keep coming back. The innovative, iPad-based software allows customers to track each visit they make at any YoYo’s location using their mobile phone or land line.

After signing up for the program by entering their phone number on the Berry Loyal iPad, customers receive a $1 off coupon that they can redeem. After their tenth visit is recorded, customers will then receive a coupon for $5 off their next purchase. The Berry Loyal program also enables YoYo’s franchisees to send out promotional offers via text message to all members who signed up at their store. The YoYo’s difference is the unique combination of an old-fashioned approach to the customer experience combined with modern technology and quality products. Come in and experience Yogurt Yo way today!

For more on YoYo's Yogurt Cafe (88 Hunter St W, Unit 8), go to:

Phone: 705.742.0707
Website: YoYosYogurtCafe.com
Facebook: YoYosYogurtCafe
Twitter: @YoYosPtbo

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

Charm Tree Toys In Downtown Peterborough Closing Down

We're sad to report that Charm Tree Toys, owned by the awesome Maren Fine—a huge supporter of the downtown and all things Peterborough—is closing in downtown Peterborough. We wish Maren all the best—as she says to us in a tweet, "it is a very sad time." Indeed.

[UPDATE: We started a Facebook thread, with the question, "So how do we make our downtown thrive? A brainstorm. All ideas welcome. Fire away..." So many great ideas being generated there. Join the discussion. Click here.]

—pics via Julie Morris

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

The Silver Bean Cafe Is Expanding

The Silver Bean is making good use of both their "off season" and land resources by combining both buildings as they undergo some renovations.

The breezeway is no more, and the kitchen will be expanded. After work is complete, there will be an additional 128 square feet.

Here are some of the other plans they have in store for 2014:

• Showing every game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil (between June 12 and July 13)
• A weekly board games night 
• A dedicated Scrabble afternoon (likely Tuesday afternoons)
• A chess night (likely Monday evenings)
• More outdoor concerts
• More #BeanUp (tweetup) social gatherings
• Gatherings of people in specific professions (cycling, graphic designers, writers, ukulele players, etc)
• Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Summer Social

The Silver Bean Cafe will reopen on May 1st, 2014. The countdown is on!

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

DBIA Featured Post: Charlotte Anne's Restaurant

Small business owners are a different breed of person. They are drawn to their work life like no other, and always keep coming back for more. The owner/operators of Charlotte Anne’s, located at 390 Queen St. in the underrated downtown area just west of the Hunter St. bridge, are exactly that.

Michelle Christie recently became the restaurant's new owner, and works alongside her associate Tracey Ormond to form a team that was together many years ago under the same roof. Both ladies have come back in a different capacity to a place they pretty much call home. The name Charlotte Anne’s comes from the original owner from 30 years ago.

The restaurant aims to offer a little bit of something for everyone and still has a few original recipes available. They have a red seal chef there, Arthur Minor, who brings over 30 years experience. While offering a few high end dishes including steak, they offer a lot of comfort foods that have become favourites for people they know as regulars. Their half and half special offering—half salad and half fries—has become a must have for people on the go, either as a sit-in option or a fast and convenient takeout dish!

Offering daily specials, everything is made in house and from scratch. The ladies are proud to use many local ingredients and give you a product and service that is as down to earth as you can get. Must haves on the menu include the quiche, homemade soups, hot pastas, chili and more. One of their most successful meals of the week is their Sunday brunch with an all you can eat buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that has all the fixings!

Sunday brunch!

Both ladies have their specialties inside the restaurant. Michelle is hands on from start to finish. As the owner, you’ll see her on the floor taking orders and seeing the whole process through the kitchen until the food is delivered. She knows that as the owner she is a face of the brand so customer service is number one! Tracey is also all over the restaurant, but has a focus in Charlotte Anne’s budding catering business.

The restaurant’s “That’s a Wrap” special is a free delivery of wraps and salads made available for groups of 6 or more. They are always busy making deliveries for business lunches and even school study groups, and are now focused on reaching customers who aren’t aware that they provide this awesome service!

Charlotte Anne’s has been a proud member of our downtown community for over three decades now and is happy to be located in a great little neighborhood between Dan Joyce’s and Fontaine’s. They’re proud to carry on the tradition of giving back to the community, and plan on being a big part of it for years to come. They recently hosted the NHL alumni hockey party to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Now fully licensed and recently renovated, the ladies at Charlotte Anne’s invite you to come and give their style of comfort food a try. They know you’ll be happy you did!

For more on Charlotte Anne's (390 Queen St.), go to:
Phone: 705.742.2944
Website: CharlotteAnnes.ca
Facebook: Charlotte Anne's Restaurant

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DIBA Featured Post: Naked Chocolate

In life, there are people who are passionate about things but the timing isn’t right, and people who have a God given talent. When you can somehow align all of these and have a talented person working in an area they’re passionate about, you will find incredible results.

Warren Eley, owner of Naked Chocolate (located at 390 George St N), is one of the lucky people who found the perfect combination. After years of working as a corrections officer, he had finally had enough. Years before, Warren had discovered his love for chocolate making—but had but simply never acted on it. When he finally took the brave step to leave his comfort zone and take a chance, the shop was created in 2009 and he has been turning out some of the finest dessert options this city has ever seen since.

Over the last 5 to 6 years, Warren says that chocolate has really started to take off in our part of the world. Chocolate is now specialized by regions much like wine has always been. People are now “growing it” and cultivating it in such specialized ways that new flavours are constantly being created.

The named “Naked Chocolate” Warren says, came from his idea of combining a few of his favourite shows called Naked Science and The Naked Chef. What he does is a sweet science in created flavours much like a chef does but specifically in the chocolate world!

When you enter the shop, you immediately notice it isn’t your run of the mill candy store. Naked Chocolate offers what should simply be considered as “Edible Artwork”. Using no additives or enhancers, Warren—along with Angela Roest and Caitlin Stephenson—create everything onsite using only the purest of ingredients. They use “old school philosophy and techniques with new school thinking,” as Warren puts it.

What they offer is an absolute marvel when you see it: Gourmet Marshmallows, Pate de fruit, sponge toffee, various mousses, chocolates of course, and their specialty: Truffles. Much of the chocolate offered is specialized by the regions its ingredients come from. If someone was to come in and simply make a purchase based on looks and not even care about the incredible out of this world taste, it would not be surprising.

Warren has and still trains regularly at the Chocolate Academy in Montreal, continually learning new techniques to bring back to his shop. He has the goal of competing in what is called the “World Chocolate Masters” and is consistently pushing the barriers of what is possible with chocolate.

Naked Chocolate often caters events in town and is available to produce for various events and weddings, while also offering classes to those interested in different dessert areas. Over the years since its opening, the shop has also happily donated its creations to different events around the area.

Warren and the staff love being located in our downtown core as the creative spirit of entrepreneurs in their neighbourhood constantly push them to put out great products each day. They invite you to come down and have a look at these creations and see for yourself what their satisfied customers already know: Naked Chocolate is delicious!

For more on Naked Chocolate (390 George St. N), go to:
Phone: 704.775.6253
Website: NakedChocolate.ca
Twitter: @Naked_Chocolate
Facebook: Naked Chocolate

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Burrow

If you’re looking for unique gift ideas this holiday season, one of downtown Peterborough’s newest shops is a must visit. Burrow, located at 188 Hunter St W (Unit 7— just off of the Municipal Parking Lot), is a refreshingly unique home décor shop locally owned and operated by Megan Currie.

Set up in the extremely hip Café District of our downtown, the shop is at first a bit hard to find, but once discovered will not fade from your memory. Opened just over three months ago, it has been making waves as a go-to destination for amazing gift ideas for various occasions.

What seems like a small shop upon its initial discovery is in fact a surprisingly large well laid out setting that's absolutely filled with an incredible selection of home décor items. The main focus of the store is on accent pieces to enhance a look you already have going. Burrow carries a wide array of throw pillows, artwork, frames, vases, area rugs, wall decals, and blankets to name a few. That list literally does not do the store justice!

Megan has a keen eye for truly beautiful and exclusive pieces, and stocks her store accordingly. From floor to ceiling, you’ll find many one of a kind items that just aren’t available at your average run of the mill home décor big box chain. Her vision for these pieces allows for people to create their own sense of style that when combined can really blow people away!

Burrow is one of the most aesthetically pleasing stores you’ll ever discover. Along with the many smaller items in the shop, it offers quite a few larger one of a kind items as well, including benches, coffee tables, chairs and even dining room tables. Many of these items and the smaller ones have local connections to them which are a focus that Megan has in promoting her community. On top of all of this, she has created a really great baby/kids section with sheets, bedding, toys, and quilts available.

Gearing up for the holiday season, Megan has a focus on Christmas items that include ornaments, table settings, candles, and various decorations right down to really cool wine stoppers and jewelry. Megan absolutely adores downtown and the area she feels she was fortunate enough to open up in. She had the idea to open a shop years before and finally made the leap into the business world ending up finding great neighbours and landlords to deal with. She loves the uniqueness that those around her have that creates an inspiring atmosphere to come and work in every day.

Being born and raised in Peterborough, Megan has an appreciation for her community and likes to stay involved. She has donated to quite a few local charities and organizations including the Art School of Ptbo and Movember.

If you’re looking for some great gift ideas for the holiday season or any occasion for that matter, we suggest you discover Burrow if you haven’t already. We know you’ll be happy you did!

For more on Burrow (188 Hunter St W), go to:
Website: BurrowHome.ca
Facebook: BurrowHome
Twitter: @BurrowHome
Phone: 705.749.6778

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott