A new cafe to lounge, relax and eat has opened up on 1027 Gordon St.
The Monarch House Cafe & Lounge had its grand opening mid-April and hopes to host its guests with a variety of food and plenty of space for them to feel at ease.
The cafe offers specialty coffees, tea, a wide variety of baked goodies from tarts and squares to carrot cake loaves, savoury items such as sourdough pizza, and more items such as soups, sandwiches and paninis coming soon.
Splashed with colours, plants and monarch butterfly symbols, Co-owner Araya Hill says the food and environment are supposed to feel lively and energizing.
“I definitely just wanted to bring a really relaxing environment and I wanted people to just come in and feel alive and inspired,” says Hill.
“I’ve always loved butterflies. I believe butterflies symbolize change and transformation.”
Hill says the opportunity to start this business with her friends came right when she needed it the most in her life and therefore felt it was fitting to name the cafe after the monarch butterfly.
Hill worked for the previous owners of the store for a catering business. When she found out they were selling the store, she pitched the idea for a business to her two best friends, Tyler Zuidema and Tyler Campbell.
They agreed and the three of them pitched their money together, everything fell into place and now the three of them co-own the cafe.
“I think in a business you need to have people you can trust and have your back,” says Hill.
“I couldn't do without them.”
By starting a business at the age of 25, and her friends at the age of 27, Hill says she wants to inspire others to do the same.
“I just wanna inspire young people. I did it. You can do it too.
Hill says ever since she moved to Guelph from Hamilton three years ago, she's been inspired by the city’s close-knit culture and other business owners and she hopes to reflect that culture in the cafe’s space.
The cafe supports many local businesses by carrying products from Thurston Honey Bee Co., Get Baked, Merit Badge Doughnuts and Goodfellow’s Bakery.
“Business owners here stick together. They all seem to know each other. Its a really close circle and everybody is so friendly,” says Hill.
“I wanna give back and support them as well.”
She says this business is a stepping stone to create bigger things in the future.
The Monarch House Cafe & Lounge is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
