You can now order from a cocktail hotline at a hidden Toronto bar

By

-

2:40 pm

We don’t know how long it will be before we’ll find ourselves back in a bar, asking for a recommendation from the bartender for our next drink order — but one Toronto bar is aiming to recreate the experience in takeout form.

The Cloak Bar, a hidden cocktail bar located under Marben Restaurant, has launched a new “Cocktail Hotline” that allows customers to place on-the-spot, custom cocktail orders via DM to the bar’s Instagram account.

On Fridays and Saturdays from 4-10 p.m., you can message @TheCloakBar to place a drink order. Ask for your favourite cocktail customized to your liking or leave it up to the Cloak Bar’s head bartender, Farzam Fallah, to recommend a drink for you based on your preferences.

Whatever you choose, Fallah will bottle it up immediately and it will be ready for pick-up within about 15-30 minutes. “I want people to treat this like their regular cocktail bars and me as their neighbourhood bartender,” he says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Cloak Bar (@thecloakbar)

While plenty of Toronto bars have launched cool batched cocktail programs amid the pandemic, the Cloak Bar wanted to offer customers more choice. Batched programs typically give customers a limited selection of cocktail options, plus don’t allow guests to tweak how sweet (or dry) they want their drink to be. The Cloak Bar’s new program allows customers to order exactly the kind of drink they want and on-demand.

“I was finding myself getting a little bit tired and uninspired,” says Fallah. “When you’re working with bottled cocktails, you’re making 20 or 30 of the same thing. It’s been fun getting back behind the bar and starting to use those muscles again, both in my brain and in my hand.”

He says that Paper Planes and Margaritas have been the most popular orders so far. “It’s not just getting a drink — it’s the whole experience of having that [Instagram] conversation and coming to the shop and knowing that the drink was made specifically for you,” adds Fallah. “It’s something different. It’s almost like being open again.”

A new photo series depicts restaurant life in lockdown

By

Jessica Huras

-

11:14 am

0

Jody Shapiro, co-owner of lumberjack-chic hipster hotspot Antler, has partnered with the Stephen Bulger Gallery to create Lockdown 2.0, a photo essay series aimed at raising funds for the hard-hit restaurant industry.

Featuring 14 Toronto restaurants, including Ascari, Blackbird Bakery, Canoe, the Federal, Skippa, the Skyline and Uncle Mikey’s, Shapiro’s photos depict some of these chefs, owners, managers and servers trying to maintain their daily routines against a backdrop of empty booths and tables.

Photographs in the series are now available for purchase through global photography sales platform FFOTO. All profits from the print sales will go towards hospitality non-profit organizations the Full Plate and Save Hospitality.

In an interview on the FFOTO site, Shapiro said he hopes that his photos will serve as a “point of reflection.” Shapiro aimed not only to document this challenging moment for Toronto restaurants but also to highlight the dedication and commitment of workers in the dining industry.

According to Save Hospitality, over 1 million hospitality jobs have been lost since Canada’s lockdowns began, making hospitality workers the largest sector of Canadians currently experiencing unemployment. While Toronto restaurants have pivoted to takeout, delivery and grocery, few have found this business model to be sustainable, and even those that are managing to stay afloat have had to drastically reduce staff.

In a press release, Shapiro commented that “those in the hospitality industry are trying to safely navigate their businesses – their livelihoods – amidst the current operational restrictions. I want to use this photography series to demonstrate how hard everyone is working to survive and remind our community that we’re all in this together.”

Both the Full Plate and Save Hospitality were created in response to the pandemic restrictions on restaurants and aim to provide support and resources to the workers most directly affected. Lockdown 2.0 can be viewed and purchased online from FFTO.

A new prix fixe dining event kicks off in Toronto today

By

Jessica Huras

-

12:14 pm

0

locallicious toronto canoe — Roasted salmon with sea buckthorn caramel, shaved fennel, creamed leeks and red wine fish sauce from Canoe's LocalLicious menu

If you’ve been finding the Toronto winter a little bleaker in the absence of the city’s much-loved annual Winterlicious event, a new initiative is here to fill the prix-fixe meal void. LocalLicious sees more than 100 restaurants across Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan offering special three-course menus from today until March 7.

The 10-day event organized by the independent restaurant coalition Save Hospitality aims to encourage diners to support their local restaurants. Participating restaurants are invited to offer a three-course prix fixe meal for dine-in or takeout (depending on their own local protocols), with $1 from each meal sold donated to a charity of their choice.

More than 75 Toronto restaurants are participating in the event and each is free to set their own price for their menu, which means there is a range of options for diners with various budgets. Choices span from casual Pizzeria Du, which is offering any 12-inch pizza, your choice of appetizer or salad and a pint of M!LK Gelato for $34; to high-end O&B restaurants like Auberge du Pommier, which is offering two $70 menu options featuring dishes like canard terrine with wild mushrooms and beef tenderloin with truffle pomme purée.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SMOKESHOW BBQ & BREW (@smokeshow_bbq_brew)

Smokeshow BBQ and Brew, La Palma, Enoteca Sociale and the Dirty Bird are among the many other participating restaurants. Margaret’s #FullPlates Initiative, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, Covenant House and the Toronto Vegetarian Association are just a few of the charities that Toronto restaurants are choosing to support through the initiative.

You can see a full list of Toronto restaurants participating in the event on the Save Hospitality website and find menus on the Instagram or website of your chosen restaurant.

Pop-up Sunny’s Chinese is taking Toronto by storm

By

lindsaylow

-

3:50 pm

0

When the pandemic brought their brick-and-mortar restaurant plans to a halt, chefs David Schwartz, Braden Chong and Keith Siu channelled their culinary creativity into the pop-up concept Sunny’s Chinese.

Like the eventual restaurant the trio plans to open, Sunny’s Chinese highlights the distinctive cuisines of China’s different regions. Each pop-up focuses on a particular area of the country, with previous events featuring Cantonese- and Sichuan-inspired menus.

Naturally, this means that each pop-up menu offers something a little different. Previous events have featured dishes such as lightly steamed baby yu choy with bamboo, pao la jiao and guaiwei sauce; stir-fried cheung fun with soy sauce and scallion; and twice-cooked pork belly with hot long pepper, salted black bean and doubanjiang.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunny’s Chinese (@sunnyschinese)

The chefs aim to stay true to the traditions of each region, providing diners with compelling insights into China’s rich culinary heritage. Meals also come with menu cards that offer background and context on the featured food, often addressing common diner questions, such as misconceptions about the use of MSG and whether American Chinese fare can be considered authentic.

Email subscribers are notified of new events, which so far have consistently sold out almost immediately. Your best bet for catching the next one is to keep an eye on their Instagram and sign up for their newsletter. A permanent location for Sunny’s Chinese is still reportedly in the works, so there’s hope that it will soon be easier to get a taste of this in-demand pop-up.

Toronto is getting two new comfort food virtual restaurants this weekend

By

Jessica Huras

-

1:20 pm

0

Miami-based chef Michael Lewis is making his Toronto restaurant debut by tapping into two of the city’s biggest pandemic dining trends: fried chicken sandwiches and ghost kitchens. This weekend, the chef is set to launch two delivery-only concepts, Chikin and Laid Fresh, in partnership with REEF Neighbourhood Kitchens, a North American ghost kitchen provider.

Lewis cut his teeth at Michelin-starred restaurant Jean-Georges in New York City, going on to open global restaurants for its chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and later for the Zuma restaurant group.

First launched in Montreal, Chikin takes a cue from one of the most popular menu items at Lewis’s James Beard Award-nominated Miami restaurant Kyu. “Korean Fried Chicken exploded in popularity in Miami, becoming a hugely hot item,” said chef Lewis in a press release. “This possibility for expansion in Canada and testing recipes in different markets is very exciting for us. It gives us the chance to be creative and really concentrate on what we do – giving people quality, comfort food they love and flavour they crave.”

Menu highlights at Chikin include the Hot Mess sandwich, which features Korean-inspired fried chicken layered with housemade hot sauce, blue cheese, napa slaw and yuzu pickles; and Fully Loaded Waffle Fries topped with Cheese Whiz and bacon bits. There’s also a veggie-friendly version of the fried chicken sandwich made with a crispy cauliflower steak.

Lewis will also launch Laid Fresh, a new all-day breakfast-style concept centred on egg sandwiches, such as the Soft Scrambled made with free-range scrambled eggs, avocado and brie. Diners also have the option to have any sandwich filling served in a better-for-you bowl form with greens instead of a bun.

Chikin and Laid Fresh will launch on Friday, Feb. 26. Both will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. and will be available through Uber Eats, DoorDash and SkipTheDishes.

Tom’s Dairy Freeze opens new pop-up in Trinity Bellwoods

By

Marlene Mendonca

-

5:27 pm

0

Popular ice-cream parlour in Etobicoke, Tom’s Dairy Freeze, known for its long lineups every summer, is opening a new pop-up location in Trinity Bellwoods.

Tom’s has partnered with ShipNoble, which will allow Tom’s to be delivered to anybody within a seven-kilometre radius of Trinity Bellwoods on Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toms Dairy Freeze (@tomsdairyfreeze)

For Tom’s, 2021 marked the first year that the parlour stayed open during the winter season in its 52-year history.

Delivery options have been limited, says owner Guido DiPiazza, who was frustrated by the limitations of the Uber Eats delivery radius. “We’ve gotten stuff on social media before saying ‘Oh I wish I was in the delivery area,’ ” DiPiazza said, “so I’m really honoured and happy that we can do this, it’s fantastic.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toms Dairy Freeze (@tomsdairyfreeze)

This new partnership marks ShipNoble’s first venture into the world of food. The company normally provides shipping and logistical solutions for apparel companies and small goods purveyors but are looking to provide additional platforms to small businesses.

ShipNoble’s space downtown in Trinity Bellwoods does just that for Tom’s, allowing for local pickup, as well as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Ritual orders, according to ShipNoble partner Abe Hsu. The new online marketplace, NobleMarket, goes live on Feb. 26.

For DiPiazza, the partnership simultaneously relieves a burden and opens up new doors.

“As a business owner, I’m here, cleaning the machines, making the product. It’s like a whole ‘nother job to deliver the product to the customers. I think it created a new market, sometimes people like to be at home and get stuff delivered, I think it just created something new,” he says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toms Dairy Freeze (@tomsdairyfreeze)

As for the logistics, DiPiazza makes all of the ice cream at Tom’s location on The Queensway. Then drives it over to ShipNoble’s “virtual kitchen” in Trinity Bellwoods. Just like that, Tom’s has doubled its delivery range.

Hsu believes this model will be sticking around long after the pandemic is over.

“I think it’s a very viable solution,” he says. “All of these restaurants that cater to Uber like Tom’s, they only have a small radius to distribute from, so they need a platform in many different areas. We can comfortably distribute for him because he stands behind his product, and we’re going to stand behind our freezer.”

Adamson Barbecue owner fined $187,000 by the City of Toronto

By

Ron Johnson

-

4:18 pm

0

adamson BBQ — Adamson Barbecue's Etobicoke location | Instagram/@adamsonbarbecue

Restaurant owner Adam Skelly is back in the spotlight again, but this time it’s because of a $187,000 invoice from the City of Toronto. Skelly, the owner of Adamson Barbecue, faces this hefty sum after defying lockdown orders last November.

Police were sent to the restaurant on Queen Elizabeth Boulevard over a number of days last November to help control crowds that gathered outside in support of the restaurant owner. Reportedly, Skelly was also arrested last year for attempting to break into the restaurant from an adjoining wall after the city changed the building’s locks (an order mandated by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa).

Skelly was allowed to reopen Adamson back in November for takeout and delivery and has since been operating within the current COVID-19 safety measures.

253 cops that day. They sent me the invoice. pic.twitter.com/VT26U21PXc

— Adamson Barbecue (@adamsonbarbecue) February 20, 2021

Skelly now faces both criminal and provincial charges. The majority of the billable items are to pay police staffing costs. Other costs include city licensing and public health costs, funds used to shutter the restaurant and money paid to a locksmith. Skelly had posted the detailed bill on his Instagram page (@adamsonbarbecue) but has since removed the post.

Skelly has not publicly stated whether or not he intends to pay the fine but did post a photograph of new restaurant merchandise on his Instagram page with the caption: “Help support the BBQ revolution and fund the upcoming constitutional challenge!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adamson Barbecue (@adamsonbarbecue)

Last fall, there was also an online fundraiser to pay legal fees for Skelly’s defence on the Gofundme site that totalled more than $300,000.

Lucullus Bakery is set to open a new location in North York this spring

By

lindsaylow

-

11:38 am

0

Stone Yu’s initiation into the world of baking came early. Much of his childhood was spent in the kitchen of his family bakery, learning from a team of Hong Kong–born chefs. Yu’s parents opened Lucullus Bakery in 1991 after moving to the Greater Toronto Area from Hong Kong. He later refined this hands-on education, studying the culinary program at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute.

Now as CEO of Lucullus, which has since opened additional locations in Richmond Hill and Unionville, Yu is focused on finding a balance between tradition and innovation. He says that in Toronto, and even back in Hong Kong, many bakeries have shifted over the years to reselling premade frozen products. Lucullus sets itself apart by steering clear of these shortcuts.

“We do the important parts by hand,” says Yu, explaining that the bakery makes as much as possible from scratch, including bun fillings, breads and pastries. “We make our puff pastry for our egg tarts every day. That recipe has stayed the same for 30 years,” he says. “We also roast the pork that goes into our BBQ pork bun filling every day.”

Although staying true to traditional Chinese baking ingredients and techniques is important to Yu, he’s also dedicated to continuously revising old recipes and developing new ones.

“Recently I’ve been taking a lot of inspiration from Japanese and Korean baking,” he says. “I try to learn interesting things and see what I can incorporate into our selection.”

He aims to eschew trends in favour of creating a community hub, where customers can stock up on fresh, high-quality baked goods every day.

“If a store is chasing Instagram fads, I’ve seen many of them have to close down. They don’t have longevity,” he says. “We make our bakery a daily product. We want to be the neighbourhood bakery that’s almost like a grocery store.”

With Lucullus celebrating 30 years in business this year, Yu has his eye on the future. There are plans in the works for two more locations to open in 2021, including one in North York’s Willowdale neighbourhood set to open this spring.

Yu also has a vision of franchising the bakery, providing an opportunity for other GTA families to own their own business.

“Starting a business like ours in Canada is a lot more difficult now than it was 30 years ago,” he says. “The franchises could empower a lot of people.”

Tips for preventing impaired driving

By

Jarrod Daley

-

11:30 am

0

See all posts by Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

Many of us are now working from home, due to the pandemic, and even more of us are avoiding nonessential trips, helping to social distance and preventing the spread of Covid-19. Even the fun times, like family reunions, birthday parties, and the popular after-work happy hours with co-workers are all going virtual. However, even with all the precautions of staying at home, and the normal precautions about not drinking and driving, impaired driving in Canada is actually on the rise.

“This is a growing concern for many Canadians and can have serious, life-impacting consequences not just for the driver, but their passengers and anyone else on the road at the same time” shares Sandra Zisckind, Senior Partner of personal injury law firm, Diamond and Diamond Lawyers.

It’s not just drinking and driving that has created problems for Canadian drivers, either, According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, the number of distracted driving accidents in Canada has surpassed the number of drunk driving accidents. Furthermore, In 2018, there were 1,922 motor vehicle fatalities in Canada, an increase of 3.6% from 2017 (1,856).

Alcohol has long been known to cause impaired driving and be the contributing factor in a large number of car wrecks in Canada. It’s not the only substance that distracts drivers. Cannabis, even though it was legalized in Canada in 2018, is a major factor in distracted driving. In fact, after cannabis use was legalized, 40% of drivers involved in a car accident tested positive for marijuana, versus 33% of drivers that tested positive for alcohol.

With the legalization of cannabis, many Canadians wondered about how this pertained to DUI and distracted driving laws in the country. First, distracted driving is distracted driving, no matter what caused the distraction. impaired driving and distracted driving are both against the law in Canada. In response to the legalization of cannabis, the government addressed these facts, and in June 2018, Bill C-46 was passed. This law stated the amount of THC (the intoxicant in cannabis) that one could have in their body and be considered impaired under the law. It’s similar to the BAC, or Blood Alcohol Content, which measures how impaired after drinking an individual is.

Both cannabis and alcohol affect people differently, and the concentration of both in the bloodstream partly depends on a person’s age, weight, and gender. A large young man may be able to consume more cannabis or alcohol and be within the legal limits that a small, older woman. Therefore, understanding how long it takes your body to metabolize cannabis or alcohol will give you a rough idea of how long you have to wait after consuming either to drive.

It’s important to bear in mind that the laws regarding driving under the influence apply differently to minors and those under 22. Canada has a “zero tolerance” policy for drivers aged 22 and younger that have alcohol or other drugs in their system. If these drivers test positive for any amount of drugs or alcohol, the penalties are a step.

Therefore, it’s important to practice safe and legal behaviors. Sandra Zisckind recommends that you “call a cab or a ride-sharing service if you have been drinking or using cannabis, or designate a sober driver for you and your party. And, stay at home!” This not only eliminates your risk of driving while impaired, but it also helps reduce the spread of Covid-19. If someone has been drinking or using drugs and wishes to drive, take action. Offer them a place to sleep, or take their keys. Finally, if you’re on the road while driving and see someone under the influence, call the emergency number, state your location, and give the operator a description of the vehicle and driver, as well as the direction and road they’re on.

About Sandra Zisckind

Sandra Zisckind is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2003 and practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto.

Home of the Week: A stylish semi-detached home near Yonge and Eg for just under $1.4 million

By

Nikki Gill

-

9:36 am

0

While the exterior of 147 Roselawn Ave. is designed with cool brick and dark materials, the inside takes on a more light and warm approach. This semi-detached home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is located within the Yonge and Eglinton district with close access to Eglinton Park.

Along with two storeys of living space, it also comes with a finished lower level. It’s a short walk away from Yonge Street and is listed for $1.389 million.

There’s plenty of space for comfy chairs on the covered front porch.

Hardwood flooring spans throughout the home’s two storeys. Brown hardwood adds some contrast to the white cabinetry in the gourmet kitchen. It comes with a breakfast bar that doubles as extra counter space.

There’s banquette seating in the dining room, which is open to the kitchen. A golden chandelier gives the space extra lighting and style points.

A brick fireplace in the living room is painted white, giving it a modernized appearance.

All four bedrooms are on the second floor. The main bedroom comes with sleek hardwood flooring and a double closet.

This bathroom has a cream colour palette and walk-in shower.

The room is the perfect size for a guest bedroom or home office.

Downstairs in the basement is a spacious living space with over seven-foot ceilings. It features a recreation room with built-in shelving and pot lighting.

Residents can escape the hustle and bustle of Toronto without even leaving the city thanks to this nature-filled backyard, complete with a wooden deck.

This home at 147 Roselawn Ave. is listed with Mary Cifuentes of Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc., Brokerage.

Former chief city planner Jennifer Keesmaat on the impact of the pandemic on the real estate market

By

Erin Neilly

-

3:22 pm

0

Jennifer Keesmaat is the City of Toronto’s former chief city planner. Recently, she partnered with real estate developer Jason Marks to launch Markee Developments. The new group’s first project is Tyndale Green, a purpose-built rental project at the site of Tyndale University near Bayview and Finch. Post City spoke with Keesmaat about the impact of the pandemic on the real estate market.

How has the pandemic changed development?

I do think one of the lasting legacies of that is a broader recognition that, no matter what twists and turns happen in the broader economy, if we’re not building purpose-built, affordable rental housing, there’s going to be a segment of the population that is excluded from the housing market.

Has this impacted affordability?

Back in March, everyone was, like, does this mean it’s going to be easier to access affordable housing? Or is it going to be worse? And one of the things that we’ve discovered is that, in fact, anything that isn’t part of the higher end of the market is still completely detached from wages. We would like to see the average rent to be in keeping with the average wage. That’s how you know you have some stability. But that hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, if anything, it’s gotten even worse. So I think a lasting impact for me is a recognition that, OK, no matter what kind of shifts we see in the global economy, it’s almost like affordable rental and rental in particular is in its own little bubble. And we need to be thinking about it as something that needs to be provided, particularly for essential workers.

Any second thoughts to planning a rental community?

I don’t think that’s a long-term impact, for a simple reason, which is that some of the key drivers behind the rental market are on hold right now. That’s kind of like saying you will no longer have restaurants because right now the restaurant industry is failing. The restaurant industry will come back. It absolutely will. But it’s on hold right now. And there’ll be a lot of damage done in the meantime, for sure.

What will drive the rebound?

When it comes to rental, if we look at some of the key drivers, one is immigration. Well, what’s happened during the pandemic? Immigration has been on hold. Is immigration going to be on hold for the long term? Absolutely not. In fact, the Canadian government has made it clear that it is going to double immigration targets, once we get out of lockdown, to catch up the lost ground. That is going to drive rental supply. Another is foreign students.

How do you see the rest of the year playing out in real estate?

My prediction is that the demand is going to be very strong, for a couple of reasons. One is the high level of disposable income that people have been accumulating… And so you’ll probably see more movement once the lockdown is lifted and once we do have a vaccine. Look, the supply challenges that we had before the pandemic haven’t gone away. We still have a shortage of supply. When you bring those factors together, it’s very likely; although, I will tell you, I’m always the one on the panel who kind of shrinks when you ask for the predictions because the real estate market is so unpredictable. But I think every indication is that we’re going to see a very strong rebound, you know. It’s going to be like the roaring ’20s.

For the full interview with Ms. Keesmaat check out our new real estate podcast out soon on Apple iTunes and on TRNTO.com. And to hear more of her thoughts, get your tickets to Post City’s 2021 Real Estate Roundtable virtual event taking place on Thursday, Feb. 25. Register for the event at trnto.link/rert2021.

The Quarterly and Fast Life are two new local brands offering athleisure wear

By

Nikki Gill

-

1:06 pm

0

It’s probably safe to say that after nearly a year of various stages of lockdown, endless Zoom meetings and barely leaving the house, athleisure is here to stay. Even once life resumes a more normal pace, clothing that blends comfort and style while seamlessly fitting in with the rest of your wardrobe isn’t likely to go out of style.

“Athleisure is here to stay because it’s a huge industry and it offers fashion and style no matter the occasion,” affirms Suzette Chambers, founder of Fast Life, one of several local athleisure brands to recently enter the space.

Alesha Rayoff-Pearce, who founded The Quarterly with friend Michelle Goldman shares Chambers’ sentiments. “Athleisure offers work life balance, plus improved productivity.”

The Quarterly founders Alesha Rayoff-Pearce and Michelle Goldman

Gone are the days of oversized sweatpants and ill-fitting leggings. Today’s offerings are made for more than lounging. Athleisure has become a helping hand to busy humans trying to balance Zoom school, grocery runs, actual work and who knows what else – something that Rayoff-Pearce and Goldman are very conscious of.

“Our vision is really to blur boundaries between functional activewear and street style,” Rayoff-Pearce says. “We imagine the elements of a full day and a full life and what you’ll need to wear to survive and thrive.”

Athleisure is also more likely to suit a wide range of body types, with the potential to offer both comfort and style, no matter size or shape – an important factor for Chambers. She was inspired to start Fast Life after having trouble finding leggings and tops that were comfortable and looked great at the same time.

“Fast Life is a unique brand because we offer comfort and style and take pride in showcasing all women no matter their shape or size,” she explains. In fact, she prefers to use customer photos to show that real women are wearing the brand and not Instagram models.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fast Life (@fastlifecan)

With The Quarterly, Rayoff-Pearce says they also considered how to help women more efficiently get through the day. “Whether you’re squeezing in a workout before or after a school drop-off, or doing a yoga class at home and heading into the office, we curate looks to get you through it all.”

In terms of response, both Chambers and Rayoff-Pearce say that sales have been excellent.

“My clothing brand is doing exceptionally well. The reception has been better than expected and we can hardly keep the store stocked,” says Chambers. “Women supporting women is a real movement, not to mention being a Canadian brand makes customers feel better as they are supporting the local economy.”

Rayoff-Pearce adds, “Michelle and I are so thankful and grateful for all the support and love we’ve been shown. People have shown up for us and that’s a big part of our success. They’ve believe in what we are doing and helped lift us up.”