A Tale of Stores

Although The Cuddly Bunny opens up directly from P’lovers (and has its own rear entrance), it is a separate business run by the highly energetic mompreneur, Nicole Vos, who magically raises five daughters (all under 10) in tandem with running her business

Queen Street Common in Port Perry is home to many quaint and inviting shops and eateries, each with their own unique flavour and flair. At 180 Queen Street, you will find the epitome of what draws people to the streets of the Port – a trio of treasures under one roof, featuring: a bean, a bird, and a bunny.

Amanda Jackson migrated from Toronto to Port Perry eight years ago. After commuting and working at various jobs, she found herself entertaining the idea of starting a business in town, close to home. A self-proclaimed foodie, she began catering to satisfy her entrepreneurial hunger, something that appealed to her sensory delight.  Then, a friend encouraged her to consider opening a café in a shared section of a larger retail space occupied by P’lovers – an environmental store. It seemed like a perfect fit for an ethically responsible café, so Amanda took a leap of faith and Queen Beans was born.

The café offers a quaint sitting area of loose tables and chairs amidst shelves of fair trade coffees (with over 20 varieties of Creemore Coffee Company’s finest), teas, hot chocolates, cups, teapots, and other stylish café couture. Further; gluten-free packaged mixes, hot sauces, chutneys, maple products, honey, and various Canadian-sought specialties provide for conscientious shopping. Fresh baking fills a glass display case flaunting Montreal’s coveted St. Viateur bagels,(via overnight courier), scones, croissants, and other treats originate from family-run, Circles & Squares Co., and a tempting array of fresh gluten-free baked goods designed to satisfy the ever-increasing demand. 

Further indication of Amanda’s favour for food, is a diverse collection of inspiring cookbooks showcasing gluten-free cooking and healthful eating ideas. And while one sits contented with a mug and a munch,  P’lovers adjacent displays of earth savvy wares vie for further investigation.

P’lovers, named for both ‘planet lovers’ as well as the endangered shore bird, is a five-store franchise with branches in Halifax, Mahone Bay, London, Stratford, and of course, Port Perry. Originating in Halifax in 1992, P’lovers mandates a commitment to conscious product selection within each of its stores. Items for sale should reflect aspects of the reduce, recycle and reuse etiquette, be made from natural, non-toxic, biodegradable components, be cruelty free, responsibly packaged, be environmentally sensitive, and align with mindful living, in order to be aptly considered. Each owner has the liberty to make product choices, with an emphasis upon Canadian products, especially those locally made, whenever possible. 

An extensive array of home and body products ensures one stop shopping for most needs. In addition to organic cotton fabrics, beautiful, versatile bamboo is capable of bridging the gap between softness and structure. From comfortable clothing and fluffy towels to rigid bowls, spoons, and cutting boards, bamboo does it all. Equally versatile, hemp is used to produce a plethora of high quality items ranging from clothing to personal body care products, from yet another sustainable resource. How exciting to see such beautiful, functional, formaldehyde-free, and cost effective wares and know that choosing these products supports ethical, environmental measures. Choosing these products over non-ethical items is easy – superior quality and affordability means no compromise.  As a discriminating buyer, Amanda points out, “If I don’t like it myself, I can’t sell it to someone else.”

P’lovers also carries a wide range of beeswax candles, which burn cleaner and much longer than other waxes, and without the adversities associated with paraffin and artificial fragrances. Beeswax is also used in some of the body care products from lip balms to soaps and creams. P’lovers is careful to select personal products free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, and phthalates commonly found in products that are used to produce lathers, stabilize emulsions, preserve formulations, and the like.  Instead, P’lovers carries personal care products from a variety of sources from Blue Beaver, Burt’s Bees, and others, including a local soap maker. 

A few years back, Amanda purchased P’lovers from the previous owner that shared the retail space; it was a natural progression after establishing Queen Beans. Amanda reflects, “After all, we’re not selling a product, we’re selling a concept,” and it made perfect sense to maintain the balance between these related businesses.

As a community hub, patrons gather in the café for monthly ‘Enviro Chats’ on subjects from gardening to environmental issues organized by Scugog Connections through Durham Sustain Ability at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. It is also the meeting place for other groups from time to time, including a celiac support group.

Amanda is extremely passionate about her role in the community and values her relationship with her customers. “This is not just a job,” she infuses, “it’s my life!” That could explain the long and dedicated hours she invests on a daily basis, and why she walks her talk with surefootedness.  

Moving through Queen Beans and P’lovers, you will come across a vibrant children’s shop, The Cuddly Bunny Company. Although the store opens up directly from P’lovers (and has its own rear entrance), it is a separate business run by the highly energetic mompreneur, Nicole Vos, who magically raises five daughters (all under 10) in tandem with running her business. Nicole had already established a related venture with her burgeoning line of high end frilly, blingy, girly accessories – Petite Chic (www.petitechic.ca), which began to grow wings of its own after receiving national press.  When the opportunity arose to take over the existing children’s shop, Nicole was delighted to integrate her own established home-based business into a physical retail premises. 

The high end, yet affordable selection spans clothing, accessories, toys, organic and eco friendly wares, and popular name brand products, in addition to items for moms-to-be, new moms, and kids of all ages. Services include: gift registries, monogramming, cloth diaper support, workshops, speaking engagements, and a community hub for parenting resources.  If you’re shopping for babies or kids and want something adorable, practical, or unique, The Cuddly Bunny is a fabulous find.  

So the bean, the bird, and the bunny live ethically ever after on the Queen Street Common, at a place where three conscious B’s, run by two clever women, share one convenient address!

Visit: www.planetlovers.com  and  www.cuddlybunny.com