Illustration by: Jessie McLaughlin
Local Business Collaboration Has an Appetite for Building Community
When it comes to flavour combinations, there are a few that stand out above the rest: coconut and mango, peppermint and chocolate, bacon and maple syrup…Now, there’s a new South Shore flavour combination to dig your spoon into. Rosefinch Mercantile and Galeforce Feasts have joined forces to create an unmissable brunch/lunch experience.
Rosefinch Mercantile and Tearoom is the passion project of Haritha Gnanaratna and Audra Williams. They opened their business in September 2023; it is a post office, café, gift shop, and grocery store. Williams and Gnanaratna initially met Lori Gale, a caterer, when they bought the building in Port Medway. In recent months, Gale ran a Sunday brunch pop-up in the space. “The partnership felt really great,” says Williams.
Gale runs Galeforce Feasts, a catering company. Gale and her wife purchased a food truck last year with the intentions of running Galeforce Feasts in it. However, there are significant mechanical issues that are delaying the food truck’s debut.
When the chef who worked for Williams and Gnanaratna at Rosefinch Mercantile quit to return to Ontario, the pair asked Gale to open a restaurant in their business. “Everything fell into place after everything fell apart,” Gale says. The collaboration means that you can treat yourself to Gale’s international comfort food cuisine five days a week during brunch/lunch hours. After two months, the team says the collaboration is going great.
One thing they all certainly agree on: this place isn’t just a place to grab a great meal. All three collaborators emphasize the importance of community building and creating a space where all community members can feel a sense of belonging. In June, the South Shore Multicultural Association hosted an event called Harvest Kitchen Series with the business. In July, the Rosefinch + Galeforce team hosted Big Gay Brunch, which was a huge success. In the future, they will host events with Lunenburg Pride. Gnanaratna has an interest in inviting local authors to discuss their work. Gale, a former high school teacher, wants to make the space welcoming to youth.
Amateur sociologists might be familiar with the term “third place”—a place that isn’t home or a workplace where people can get together and enjoy each other’s company. Without a doubt, Rosefinch Mercantile + Galeforce Feasts is on its way to becoming an iconic South Shore third place.
Recently had brunch at Galeforce Feasts and was very delighted with how good the food was, as well as the service. Highly recommend.