Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want.
– Anna Lappe
Whenever I try something new that I really like – a city, a restaurant, a boutique shop, a new craft beer – I get an overwhelming urge to introduce it to everyone I know. When I love something I want everyone else to love it as much as I do. This is especially true for the small, quirky, and unique.
When I go somewhere new, I look for these places; the things you can’t find anywhere else that make each town special. When I find them, I feel like I truly know the place where I live; the place where I can recommend a trail walk, bike shop, gastro pub, or mechanic.
Over the years I’ve found that, with very few exceptions, the most wonderful places are small and locally run. The people who own and operate these businesses work hard, love what they do, and make their communities better. They’re also usually the most ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious.
This week, I want to say thank you to some of these places. I want to put my money where my mouth is and spread the word. For whatever reason, I’ve never really been a review writer – positive or otherwise – but when I thought about the small businesses that I interacted with this week, I thought about the positive impact they each had on me. Whether it was quick and friendly service, a delicious meal, a bit of nostalgia, or genuinely lovely human interaction, I was made happier by the experience.
I don’t know if there’s any actual research about the positive correlation between review-writing and happiness, but putting my happy thoughts out into the world (and onto the internet) in a place where they may actually make a difference, really brightened up my day.
So please, accept my most sincere recommendation for the following local businesses:
Dispatch Restaurant
St. Catharines, ON
dispatchrestaurant.com | Instragram: @dispatchresto
This restaurant is fairly new to the scene in St. Catharines, but they’ve already made a huge splash. Not long after they opened, they even made a Air Canada’s list of 10 best restaurants in the country.
I talk about it more in my review, but we started to order from Dispatch shortly after the pandemic hit and we intensified our desire to support local. (I swear, my husband has ordered so much local craft beer that we may as well be shareholders). We came for the sustainably-sourced produce and stayed for the great personalities and even greater food!
The food is delicious and the people are wonderful – a must try in St. Catharines!
I love food, I love drink, and I love all things local, so I was absolutely delighted when Dispatch came on the scene as an innovative blend of all three. My first proper experience with Dispatch was actually after the pandemic shut down when they prepared takeout meals in an attempt to sustainably use the rest of their pre-pandemic produce (awesome thing #1). My husband and I ordered food for ourselves and then we immediately ordered some for our family because it was SO GOOD (awesome thing #2). At that point, I looked more closely at their business practice and was fascinated to learn that the folks at Dispatch do everything in their power to produce their wonderful food and drink in a completely sustainable way. After this initial phase of take out orders, they closed up for a bit to really consciously develop a pandemic plan that was safe and sustainable for their staff and customers (awesome thing #3). When they opened up again with their online orders, we immediately tried their trail mix and Turkish delight – both incredible and something we’ve now ordered multiple times! The last time we picked up our goodies we had an opportunity to chat with one of the owners and he was so incredibly nice, friendly, and excited about his product (awesome thing #4). He took the time to chat with us and explain their next phase, along with all of the quality and safety considerations. Amazing!
So if you’ve made it to the end of this review, try Dispatch! You definitely won’t regret it 🙂
Kipps Lane Fish and Chips
London, ON
kippslanefish.com | Instragram: @kippslanefish
This little chippy has a big place in my heart. I grew up a few blocks away from this family-run business and I have lovely memories of my Mum picking up fish and chatting with John, longtime owner and founder who ran the shop from 1972 until his death in 2010. For the last decade, this place has kept its spot as a London mainstay in the loving and capable hands of John’s daughter Jacqueline. Not only is the traditionally fried, newspaper-wrapped fish delicious, it also reminds me of my Mum, and that is priceless.
The BEST fish and chips in London
My relationship with Kipps Lane Fish and Chips goes back about 30 years to when I was a kid walking the few blocks with my Mum to pick up our fish and chat with John and his family. I have many incredible memories not only of the food, but of the people who have made Kipps Lane Fish and Chips the wonderful place that it is. The quality of food and the kindness of the people is why now, even though my family lives on the other end of town and I, myself, have moved 2 hours away, we still get our fish and chips from here. They now have a great and easy-to-use website and if you are looking for a nice English-style treat, I’d highly recommend Kipps Lane Fish and Chips!
A Taste of Britain
London, ON
atasteofbritain.ca | Facebook: @Britishgiftsandgroceries
My Father had a big birthday last year and to celebrate, we planned a two-week trip to Scotland to drink whisky, eat food, and marvel at the sights and sounds of the countryside (bagpipes anyone?). Due to a pandemic-related travel ban, our trip was unfortunately cancelled. To try and make up for it, I planned a Scottish themed afternoon complete with a whisky trail on the back deck and all the goodies you can imagine. To do this, I needed to visit the local UK import shoppe. Not only was the selection huge, but the lovely lady at the counter was incredibly friendly, and Scottish to boot! I let out an actual squeak when she said that she grew up in Fife – my almost identically-spelled namesake. The afternoon was a success and the best part was the look of delight on my Father’s face as I pulled out strange flavoured crisps, shortbread, Scottish cheese, and actual haggis.
Great selection, lovely staff!
This year I was supposed to travel to Scotland with my Dad but, because of the pandemic, our trip was cancelled. This weekend I decided to bring Scotland to him by doing an at-home whiskey trail with a variety of Scottish snacks. I came to A Taste of Britain and was blown away by the selection of food, drink, and (most importantly), HAGGIS! I’m pretty sure I bought up the whole store and I had a lovely chat with the shopkeeper as she rang through my purchases. If you’re looking for a British experience in London, ON, definitely visit here!
Byron Automotive
London (Byron), ON
byronrepair.com
To make a long and disappointing story short, for some time we have been in need of a new vehicle. While our little blue car was technically road worthy, the shifty transmission (Ha, pun!) made it harder and harder to actually get places. We eventually decided to purchase my stepmother’s car that she had been trying to sell on Kijiji for several months. To do that, we needed the safety check which had, of course, just expired. We drove to Byron Automotive on her recommendation and, to my surprise and delight, they took care of everything we needed in under 10 minutes. Something that could have been disastrous at worst and boring at best was actually a really nice experience! And now we are the proud owner of a car with a working transmission.
Friendly, professional, and a life-saver!
My family has been taking our vehicles to Byron Automotive for years – even after they left Byron. I recently had to go in and get a safety renewed on my car and the experience was so quick, painless, and friendly! From the moment they pick up the phone to when you pull out of the parking lot, the folks at Byron Automotive are friendly and professional. I had a bit of a time crunch (entirely my fault) and they were so respectful of that and I was done and on my way in what felt like minutes. Definitely give Byron Automotive a try!
How to Be Happy 