DBIA Featured Post: The Speak Easy Cafe

Known for having the fastest breakfast in town, The Speak Easy Cafe is downtown Peterborough’s go-to all day breakfast restaurant. Located at 362 George St N on the always busy corner of Simcoe St and George St, the cafe offers a little bit of something for everybody.

Featuring an all-day breakfast, but not limited to that, Speak Easy offers a large selection of customer pleasing dishes. From burgers, wraps and soups, to salads, specialty omelettes and their famous toasted western sandwich, The Speak Easy has been bringing back loyal customers now for more than three years.

Locally owned and operated by Vickie Karikas and Roger Sargent, the cafe has an atmosphere like no other in the city, featuring a 1930s feel loaded with gangster imagery. Their wonderful staff help add to a restaurant that feels just like home from the moment you walk in the door.

Offering fresh and truly homemade food, Speak Easy has options for everyone— featuring many vegetarian options. Sourcing as many local ingredients as they can, the cafe always has specials running, proudly drawing in different crowds. Their student special has always been a hit, especially with Trent and Fleming students who live in the downtown area.

Based on its prime location at one of Peterborough’s busiest intersections, the cafe is able to always help advertise downtown events. Vickie and Roger realize that helping spread the word on local events is not only good for business but for downtown as a whole. They always happily help fundraise as well.

They wouldn’t want to be located in any other area in the city because they love the vibrancy that their area has to offer with so many great locally operated restaurants and shops in every direction.

Open 7 days a week, and offering all meals from breakfast to dinner, The Speak Easy Cafe has become an integral part of our downtown. If you’re looking for a break from your everyday meal selection, we suggest you walk in and give them a try. You could very well become one of their newest loyal customers.

For more on Speak Easy (362 George St. N), go to:

Phone: 705.749.9589 
Facebook: Speak Easy

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

—By Aaron Elliott

Look: These New Heritage Style Bins Will Be Installed In Downtown Core

According to a city release, beginning Monday (August 12), Creative Outdoor Advertising will be removing the seventeen stainless steel garbage/recycling receptacles located on various intersections in the downtown area and they will be replaced with new heritage-style ones similar to the one pictured above the city supplied us with. It is anticipated that removal and installation will take place the week of August 12.

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Chalk Talk: Mayor Daryl Bennett

PtboCanada's Chalk Talk is a snapshot of people's favourite thing about Peterborough. Watch for us around town as we would like to feature your favourite thing too! In this edition of Chalk Talk, Mayor Daryl Bennett was very enthusiastic about "The volunteer spirit of Peterborough!"

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PTBOPics: Business Openings & Moves Around Downtown & East City

When you walk about vibrant downtown Peterborough and East City, you likely always seem to spot a new shop, a new place to eat, or places that have relocated to another part of downtown. Here's a glimpse of recent changes...

Saying goodbye to 38º restaurant means welcoming Nicolini's back after a hiatus away from downtown. 

Hobart's Steakhouse is now calling Hunter Street home after a complete renovation to the building which was once occupied by Nicolini's. Across the road from Hobart's is currently the home of Fab Collectables & Gifts (see below), which is now on the move and has a 30% off sale in effect. No mention of where their new location might be.

As we previously mentioned in a post, Circus has now opened its second location at 382 George Street to accompany their already existing location on Aylmer Street. Circus replaces Glow Maternity, which has relocated to 188 Hunter Street. 

Enticing Cakes will be moving across the road from their current spot to help expand and grow their bake shop. Also in East City is the recent addition of the already ever popular Ashburnham Ale House.

Shots (above) has recently opened in the old Splice location at 379 George Street.  

Goddard's Flippin' Burgers will be opening soon beside the Galaxy Cinemas where Johnny Eh's were previously located, and joining the increasing competition of the perfect burger downtown. Goddard's also has a location in Bancroft at 181 Hastings Street North (see below).

Photo by Evan Holt

We love to see new and existing entrepreneurs opening their doors and helping to continue to making our downtown a thriving one. Tip us with further changes you know about downtown, in East City and elsewhere around town.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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DBIA Featured Post: John Roberts Clothiers

John and Gail Martin, owners of John Roberts Clothiers, live by the motto that “a sale is never really made until the customer comes back again.” Locally owned and operated by the couple, and in its current location since July 1992, John Roberts has been a forever evolving staple in the downtown fashion community.

Located at the corner of Charlotte and George St (371 George St N.), the store has been the source of specialty fashion that ranges from high end to every day casual wear that the owners and employees are proud to sell.

The staff at John Roberts aims to make customer service their No. 1 priority. Their goal is to build a trusting relationship with clients to keep them coming back. They aren’t in the business simply looking for quick one-and-done sales.

In 2007, the store underwent quite a large renovation to add space which provided an opportunity to bring in more upscale lines. They currently carry such trusted brands as Hugo Boss, Alberto Pants, Robert Graham, Michael Kors and Jag Jeans. Much of what they offer is exclusive to them in our great city.

People are often very surprised to see a store like theirs in the community with as much selection as they have to offer. With the added space, they are able to carry everything from men's suits, polos, shorts and casual pants to women's wear such as dresses, blouses, pants, and even accessories to finish off a look just right.

The beauty of locally owned and operated stores like John Roberts is that you get to meet owners such as John and Gail inside the actual store. John Roberts is their life and passion, and they do everything from buying the products behind the scenes, to working on the floor assisting customers, to even cleaning up after hours. Along with their trusted staff, including Jayne and Rob, they want you to feel right when you leave the store and never second guess yourself.

John and Gail love downtown Peterborough and wouldn’t want to be located anywhere else. They love the curb side appeal and creative minds that they see every day running shops everywhere in the area.

Both Gail and John are heavily involved in the community with John being on the current DBIA events committee, while they both are involved in the local lacrosse and figure skating scenes. They have happily been involved with many local charities such as Easter Seals and believe that giving back to the community that they work in is what helps it thrive.

For more on John Roberts (371 George St N.), go to:

Website: Johnroberts.ca
Twitter: @JohnRobertsPTBO
Phone: (705) 748-5212

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

—By Aaron Elliott

Chalk Talk: Maryam Monsef

PtboCanada's Chalk Talk is a snapshot of people's favourite thing about Peterborough. Watch for us downtown as we would like to feature your favourite thing too! Maryam Monsef's favourite thing is "the possibilities that exist for our downtown!"

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Tangled Threads Closing Sale

Quilting supplies and workshops store Tangled Threads is closing on September 3rd. Drop in at 261 Charlotte Street, as all inventory is currently 25% off.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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DBIA Featured Post: Chasing The Cheese

The beauty of locally owned businesses in downtown Peterborough is that upon entering them, you can literally sense the passion. At Chasing The Cheese, located at 372 Water Street, you can actually taste it!  Locally owned and operated by Julie Austin, Chasing The Cheese has been tempting taste buds since October 1st, 2010 in its current location.

Julie has always had a passion for cheese and has acquired a background in business through both education and work. Realizing it was difficult to find a variety of good cheese in Peterborough, she saw an opportunity and went for it.  She decided to attend the Cheese Education Guild (yes, that really does exist) to enrol in Cheese Appreciation courses; with this newfound knowledge, she began her business.

Chasing The Cheese is a cheese lover’s paradise. The store, which began with a modest selection of 50 different cheeses, has grown to hold over 300, including some of the tastiest cheeses this world has ever known. Here you can find gooey triple creams, sharp and crumbly aged cheddars, pungent stinkers and beautiful blues. 

While Julie carries many of the notable and familiar European offerings, her main goal is to introduce your palette to some of the lesser-known Canadian and local gems, which include cheeses from local dairies such as Crosswind Farms in Keene and Mariposa in Lindsay.

Aside from the plentiful variety of available cheeses, Julie also boasts a wide selection of crackers, bread, oils, vinegars, pasta, and even artisanal bacon from Seed to Sausage of Sharbot Lake.

Julie is proud of what the shop has to offer, and employs a staff which shares her passion. Noella, Judy, and Nicole are eager to tailor the shopping experience to each customer’s needs. Julie has a “taste before you buy” motto, and will happily cater to any budget. The aim is to make the customer’s experiences as uncomplicated as possible, as choosing a cheese can be a daunting task when faced with so much variety!

Julie is thrilled to be a part of downtown Peterborough because of the friendly atmosphere, and the supportive relationships that exist between shop owners.  Chasing The Cheese is a proud supplier to downtown restaurants Le Petit Bar, Brio Gusto and St. Veronus.

Prearranged private or group tastings, custom gift baskets by request, gift cards, and pre-orders for future events and occasions are all available. To top it all off, the shop also sells local art. With such a vast selection, Chasing the Cheese has something for every taste. Julie and her staff extend a warm welcome to you. Stop in and give them a try. There truly is no other experience like it in the Peterborough area!

For more on Chasing The Cheese (372 Water Street), go to:

Website: Chasingthecheese.com 
Twitter: @CheeseNymphs
Facebook: Chase The Cheese

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

—By Aaron Elliott

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PTBOPic: Footbridge Chalk Sign

Looks like we're not the only ones who were looking forward to the downtown footbridge re-opening. Someone wrote in chalk on the pavement next to the bridge...

"Open it

Open it

Hurray!"

[Photo by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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PTBOPic: The Footbridge To Open Again Saturday

The final touches are being put on the footbridge that not only links up Downtown Peterborough to East City, but is part of the Trans Canada Trail. The trail will reopen on Saturday.

[Photo by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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