By Michelle Poirier
Since opening in November Ms. J’s Five Corners Store has put community first by featuring local products in store and Janna Erichsen, owner of Ms. J’s, only has more plans for growth and community building this summer.
Ms. J’s is self identified as a community-focused local corner store built around connection, convenience, and celebrating local makers. In store you’ll find the regular fare you’d expect at your local convenience store, with the added bonus of local fresh coffee, ice cream, slushies, baked goods, and much more.
Along with everything she offers already, Erichsen says she is always connecting with her customers about what they want to see in store, if you have something you want to see in your local store she wants to have it in stock for you.
Erichsen is in the midst of planning Corner Eats, an outdoor space next to the store for people to hang out and eat. There will be a food trailer featuring comfort foods made with local products and many picnic tables for you to relax and enjoy your meal.
“The food trailer will be nice as you’ll be able to order there and then you’ll come into the store to pay so you can pick any beverage you want,” she said.
“And it will hopefully drive people into the store to see all the other local products that we offer. So, while you’re waiting for your fantastic meatball sub sandwich to be made, you can toot around the store.”
Erichsen says she is always looking for more local suppliers to sell their products in her store.
“If you make something, if you pickle something, come talk to me, because I have room. I want to focus as much local stuff as I can,” she said.
“If I can find an alternative to something that’s been made in Canada, or even better, made within 100 kilometers of where we are, then I’ll choose that.”
Erichsen said she is trying to create a space for people that feels like a community hub, to give the feeling of “I’ll meet you there.” Somewhere you can meet up with friends to grab a coffee while you pick up some necessities.
“The whole concept for the corner is to get back to that old corner store feeling. I grew up in a small town, we had corner store, it was like, your everything. It was your community board. It was your coffee. It was your ice cream,” Erichsen said.
You can visit Ms. J’s Five Corners Store at 174 The Queensway S. Keswick. To keep up with the store you can follow along on Facebook or Instagram at msj5corners.
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