by WGO staff
Have you ever heard the term “coffee-shopping”? This new trend has been transforming the traditional brick and mortar industry as retailers are trying to cultivate an experience that cannot be recreated through online shopping. Boysenberry Boutique + Cafe will be bringing that coffee-shopping experience to life in downtown Sydney, starting this weekend.
Boysenberry is a new hybrid retail store opening in the downtown core of Sydney. What is a hybrid retail store? Many retailers are now adopting this concept to be more innovative in bringing customers into their stores. A hybrid retailer will feature two or more retail opportunities under one location, the most popular form of this is the clothing/cafe concept.
Boysenberry carries modern clothing for women while providing the best shopping experience on Cape Breton Island. It is where women can enjoy in the full shopping experience with their closest girlfriends. They can sit, chat, gossip; drink coffee, tea, lemonade, or other speciality drinks; take their time and relax; shop trendy clothing products; and most importantly support local business.
When people walk in to the old Jacobson’s building at 330 Charlotte Street, they will be greeted with an aroma of fresh coffee brewing on the main floor. The cafe will also be serving sweets such as the Cape Breton famous cupcakes from Not Just Cakes by Tara along with many other coffee-influenced drinks. Those who wish to do a bit of shopping can head upstairs to a large range of modern women’s clothing items which includes sizes from small to three-xlarge. Currently stocked full of cute, trendy dresses and jumpsuits perfect for wearing to the office or attending a wedding this summer.
Boysenberry’s owner, Tori Horvath, always dreamed of someday opening her own business, however, she never thought that dream would be coming true shortly following her 23rd birthday. After spending a summer working at Sydney Downtown Development Association, Tori quickly realized that following her graduation from Cape Breton University she would want to stay in her hometown and pursue her dream.
“There are so many great things happening right now,” says Horvath, “and I believe so many good changes are coming this way which makes looking towards the future of Downtown Sydney very optimistic. If any potential entrepreneurs in Cape Breton are just waiting for the right time, there is no better time than now to make your dreams a reality.”
The location of Boysenberry Boutique + Cafe is previously known as Jacobson’s Ladies Wear which was a staple retailer on Charlotte Street. It closed its doors in 2015 after being open for 75 years.
“Once I saw the building I immediately fell in love with it,” Horvath explains. “Although at first I thought it might be a lot larger than I needed, Boysenberry ended up fitting into the space quite perfectly. And I love the fact that we were able to restore and bring life back into an older building.”
The large space will actually allow Tori to be flexible with her offerings allowing Boysenberry to host socials, trivia nights, and be rented out for private events. The building’s bottom floor is currently empty but soon will be occupied by the Middle Ground Market which will be a great addition to the overall experience of the three-floor building.
Boysenberry Boutique + Cafe opens this weekend in the old Jacobson’s Ladies Wear building at 330 Charlotte Street. The Grand Opening takes place Saturday and Sunday, from 12noon to 6pm.
