SYDNEY RIVER, N.S. — The little coffee shop with a big personality was how one customer summed up the Ugly Mug Cafe and Emporium not long after they served their first cup of coffee.
Eight years later, its owners Lori Latimer-Merlin and Tracey Hanratty still think that is an apt description of the successful business they have established in Sydney River.
“When we first opened, we were obviously very excited and full of energy,” said Latimer-Merlin.
“We always felt we are very unique. A lady came in today and said, ‘I could be here all day looking at all your cubby holes and watching people.’”
The laughs and enthusiasm that were so striking in the beginning are still evident today, but none the less, it’s time to hand the reigns over to a new owner just like they planned to do when they first opened eight years ago.
“I’m excited for a new challenge. I’m excited for someone to take it over and grow it in a different way,” said Latimer-Merlin.
“Catering, nighttime events, or this would make a great wine bar. There is so much you can do. Our journey was to be where we are now. And we are starting our next chapter. Tracey has smaller kids, mine are at university. We are at different stages but we know that. We are sticking to our plan.”
An ad regarding the sale of the business refers to the cafe as an established, profitable small business. A loyal customer base, specialty drinks, and lunches, unique gifts and artwork are other key features noted.
In the beginning, eight years ago, it was just two entrepreneurs with a dream who devoted long hours, seven days a week, to the venture.
“And we had no staff besides Lori and I and our bakers, so in hindsight, I’m not quite sure how we did it but we worked like that for about a year,” said Hanratty.
“You knew you had to do it. Our goal was to do that so we could pay our bills off. We didn’t even take a salary.”
First-time entrepreneurs and first-time coffee creators made an interesting combination, laughed Latimer-Merlin.
“We didn’t know half the drinks we serve now,” she said. “We did a one-day training as a barista in Halifax and then we bought the equipment and opened the shop a couple of days later.”
Hard work and dedication continue to be their key to success to this day. They both agreed that the right staff, including Susan Booth who was frequently lauded during the interview, has also helped greatly.
When the ad regarding the sale of the business was published in October customers asked if COVID-19 was the reason they were selling or perhaps the newly constructed roundabout that is a much-debated addition to the area.
“I’m excited for a new challenge. I’m excited for someone to take it over and grow it in a different way," — co-owner Lori Latimer-Merlin
Both said the pandemic has only had a minimal impact and that the roundabout has been good for business.
“When we first started the business, we were going to sell after eight years, regardless, if we were making profit,” said Hanratty. “We’ve been making a profit for the last three years so it’s a good time for us to sell.”
The business had actually almost sold last year to an international buyer but that sale fell through due to immigration reasons.
“It’s the end of the journey for us and beginning of a journey for someone else,” Latimer-Merlin said about the original plan for the cafe. “That is what we’d like to see. My dream would be if a social enterprise would buy this business. I believe it is a great social enterprise.”
Despite it being time to move on, they both admit they will miss their customers, their staff and working together inside their busy little cafe.
“We’ve established a good time for people to take over because everything is in place and it can run smoothly,” said Latimer-Merlin. “It’s basically a turnkey operation and we want to keep it that way.”
Email [email protected] for more information.
Greg McNeil is the business reporter at the Cape Breton Post
