One of downtown Orillia’s most popular shops is about to become more inviting.
The expansion at Apple Annie’s Café on Mississaga Street East has been in the works for almost a year. Susan Willsey, who co-owns the business with her sister, Nancy, expects it to be finished in about a month.
The back of the building had been used for storage for years.
“There was a lot of additional square footage just in that area,” Willsey said.
She saw an opportunity — a few, actually.
Willsey runs the Apple Annie’s shop below Mariposa Market. The shop and café are affiliated, and the expansion at the café will allow for more retail opportunities.
The shop sells a variety of Rootham products — a line that has been popular with customers — and some of those products will be for sale in the expanded café, along with tea.
“One goal was to expose all of our great products to a wider audience,” Willsey said.
Accessibility is a big part of that. The Apple Annie’s shop is accessible only by stairs. There is also a step to get into the café. When the expansion is complete, there will be a rear entrance that is accessible.
There will also be accessible seating and an accessible washroom.
The revamped rear entrance will be the latest effort by a business in that area to improve the view from the back.
Willsey noted Manticore Books and Mariposa Market have undertaken similar projects, making those businesses more appealing to those who park in the municipal lot on Colborne Street.
“A big aim was to tap into the traffic at the back,” she said. “We’re hoping that encourages people to explore a bit more.”
Willsey said she also wants stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the future of downtown Orillia.
The city, through its Downtown Tomorrow Plan and Community Improvement Plan (CIP), is looking to revitalize the core. With businesses benefiting from CIP funding, and with the expected increase in residential space downtown, including Matchedash Lofts, “we’re trying to marry our efforts with that (vision),” Willsey said.
“We feel we’re on the cusp of turning things around and attracting more people downtown,” she said.
Apple Annie’s Café was a recipient of a CIP grant to aid the expansion.
“We’d encourage anyone to apply to that program,” Willsey said.
