- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor
When I asked Stephanie Termeer, owner of All Things T on 10th Street East “Why a tea store?” she replied “Well at first it was going to be ice cream. But that was twenty years ago. In Shakespeare.” She laughs at the memory.
Stephanie was a young mom then, with small kids. Her own business was not in the cards.
Her background is in insurance and accounting, and she moved to Owen Sound four-and-a-half years ago to be the manager of a restoration company's local franchise. But she stayed in the area for love.
The company wound down its business here and her thoughts turned back to owning her own business.
The first time Stephanie saw a blooming tea blossom in the pot, she was enthralled, so tea it was. She now stocks over 90 flavours and varieties of loose leaf tea including 36 different blooming teas, along with pots, cups and all sorts of tea paraphernalia. And if tea is not your drink, Civil Kat coffee is on hand. It's roasted in nearby Rockford and the eponymous cat herself lives in an apartment upstairs!
You can take your tea home or have a cup or pot in the cozy shop, maybe with a homemade muffin or a treat - or BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch) any day. All Things T on 10th Street East is the only place in town where you can buy a drink and heat up your brown bag lunch from home in their microwave, and then enjoy a table by the window while you people watch or use their wifi.
All Things T is in the historic Chicago Building, once home to the Owen Sound Artists' Co-op. Stephanie is continuing the tradition with crafts and artwork from over 65 Canadian makers, most of them right here in Grey Bruce. They include stained glass, jewellery, soap, cards, pottery – and rarer heritage crafts like scrimshaw and quilling.
“These are the kinds of crafts you see at specialty shows,” says Stephanie, “But they are hard to find year round – except here.” She grins.
All Things T partnered with the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre this fall, sponsoring their first “Tea on the Train” in the restored 1954 rail car #4884. There will be more events in the coming year, but if you can't wait, Stephanie has a special “4884” tea blend – Earl Grey with a hint of jasmine. A percentage of the 4884 tea proceeds are donated to the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre.
Teatime is anytime - at Owen Sound's All Things T.
