By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Oliver’s boutique coffee brand, Wolf Tree Coffee Co., may have been forced out of their current location but for fans of its small-batch roasted beans a new location not far from town will also feature a full café experience.
Mercedes Secor, who along with her fiancé Leigh Laugheed co-own the coffee company, told the Times Chronicle that as of March 1 the company will move to the District Wine Village where it will be located behind the Gather Bookshop.
Secor said it’s not a combination with the bookstore but rather they will occupy the empty space behind the bookstore’s building. The buildings in the wine village are set up with production space in the rear where in the case of wineries many have their wine tanks and equipment set up.
She noted the complementary fit between bookshop and coffee shop saying, “we like that they’re in the same space”.
The new setup will include onsite roasting – which was at the centre of the controversy after a single odour complaint to the town saw them forced out of their Bellevue Drive location where they operated with the town’s knowledge since 2017 – and will also include a sit-down cafe.
“We’re super pumped about it actually,” adds Secor. During an earlier interview with the Times Chronicle Secor noted that while deciding what to do about the forced relocation the duo felt that perhaps this was the time to take the coffee brand to the next level.
Wolf Tree Coffee owners Leigh Laugheed (left) and Mercedes Secor stand beside the coffee roaster at the centre of the controversy.
Don Urquhart photo
While noting that the new venture “100 per cent requires a lot more work, it also requires a good initial investment as well, but we’re just going with it because we seem to have momentum,” she said of the brand which has been growing year by year, selling over 3,600 kg of roasted beans last year alone.
Secor noted that the plan is to start March 1 with the roasting and coffee bean sales with the café opening on May 1. “We might be open a little bit sooner, but I’m just giving ourselves the May 1 opening date for some cushioning,” she said adding, “It’s overwhelming, but at least it’s all positive,” she laughs.
Operating hours will be announced as things progress, she adds.
A Change.org petition calling for a fair compromise by the Town of Oliver created by local businessman Sid Ruhland of Firehouse Brewery has garnered over 1,400 signatures.
