01Sep

Featured Vendor of the Week: Innisfail Growers

September 1, 2021By

This week’s featured vendor is Innisfail Growers

We caught up with them at last week’s market to learn a bit more about their business!

Innisfail Growers

How did you start your business?

Innisfail Growers is a co-operative of 5 local farms established in 1993.

What kind of products do you sell?

We sell central Alberta’s freshest, best local produce.

What is your “best selling” product?

So many! Beck Farms Carrots, Edgar Farms Peas, Upper Green Farms Potatoes, Jungle Farm Strawberries and Hillside Greenhouses Tomatoes.

What makes you a unique vendor?

We grow fabulous fresh produce right here in Central Alberta.

Where are you located and/or can you find your products at other locations?

The 5 Innisfail Growers Farms are located in the Innisfail Area. We do attend several other markets in the Central Alberta area: https://www.innisfailgrowers.com/markets

How long have you been a part of the Downtown Red Deer Market?

We’re proud to say we’ve been part of the Downtown Red Deer Market right from the very beginning! We sat on the committee that planned the first market and developed the guidelines for the market.

What is your favourite thing about the Downtown Red Deer Market?

Everything! The outdoor ambiance and atmosphere. We love our loyal customers at this market and the vendor mix is great. The Red Deer Downtown Market is one of our favourites!

Be sure to check them out at this week’s market and stay tuned for next week’s featured vendor!
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30Aug

Business Spotlight: Black Label Coffee House

August 30, 2021By

This week’s Business Spotlight shines on Black Label Coffee House! This specialty coffee shop is located at 4942 46 Street and brings a little taste of Utah to Downtown Red Deer. We spoke with Kim & Kyle to learn more about their unique menu!

What is your business?

We are a specialty coffee shop, and we like to support the local community. Everything coffee! We have a lot of options, non-coffee options, sugar-free options and dairy-free options as well. It’s a lot of variety that we offer, and I don’t feel like anyone around here has a menu like we do, which is nice. It’s pretty versatile!

 

When did your business open?

We’ve had this location for about six months, but there was a lot of red tape to go through, especially with Covid restrictions. But we officially opened yesterday [August 16th].

What makes your business unique?

My parents own a successful coffee franchise down in southern Utah. They have won Best of State three years in a row and Best of Southern Utah for the past 10 years. With their permission, of course, we’ve modeled our menu after theirs. My Dad was here yesterday and he’s really happy—to have his approval is just really comforting. And, like I mentioned, it’s just how versatile our menu is. You won’t find it around here at all. Also, I find when you go to a lot of small businesses their prices are very expensive—and we’re not! I don’t want to gouge people’s pockets. I just want to give quality coffee to people at an accessible price.

What are some products/services that you offer?

Coffee! We have a food menu as well, but we are just doing a soft open right now until our name is out there. We’ve got a really good breakfast and lunch menu with coffee and non-coffee options. We also have our branded tumblers here—when you bring them in for a refill you get a discount on your coffee!

 

Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

To meet people. There’s lots of foot-traffic in the summer and it gives us the opportunity to get to know a lot of people. The area is homey.

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

I like, especially on Little Gaetz, how vintage it is. I feel like that is definitely what makes it vibrant. It’s not all ostentatious with the lights and stuff. I just like it! It’s mostly local, family-orientated businesses. There’s so much down there, when you take the time to walk down there is lots of stuff that you’re not going to find at, you know, Wal-Mart!

Finish this sentence: I love Downtown because…

I love Downtown Red Deer because it’s vintage-y, and unique, and its supports local, which is huge for us.

 

Check out Black Label Coffee House for your next caffeine fix! Follow them for updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacklabelcoffeehouse/?ref=page_internal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklabelcoffeehouse/

 

Check back next week for another business spotlight! If you would like to see your Downtown business spotlighted, please contact us at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com.

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25Aug

Featured Vendor of the Week: Souto Farms

August 25, 2021By

This week’s featured vendor is Souto Farms!

We caught up with them at last week’s market to learn a bit more about their business!

What was the inspiration behind your business? 

It started with my parents back in the 70’s.

What kind of products do you sell?  

We sell everything fruits and veggies. We have a fruit farm in Oliver, BC and a vegetable farm in Airdrie, AB.

   

What is your “must try” product? 

Probably our Peaches and cherries

   

Tell us an interesting, fun fact about your business: 

It’s a family run operation.

Can you find your product anywhere else? Where can we find you online? 

No, just at farmers markets. We do a few different markets [around central Alberta] during the week. Find us online at www.soutofarms.com

(You can find their Market schedule here.)

What is your favourite thing about being in Downtown Red Deer?     

 

Its unique, the people are friendly, we get a nice crowd, they appreciate us and we appreciate them.

 

Be sure to check them out at this week’s market and stay tuned for next week’s featured vendor!
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23Aug

Business Spotlight: Chubby Jerk & BBQ

August 23, 2021By

This week’s Business Spotlight shines on Chubby Jerk & BBQ! This restaurant is located at 5005 50 Ave and serves authentic Caribbean food right in the heart of Downtown Red Deer. We spoke with the owner to learn more about this unique establishment!

What is your business?

Chubby Jerk & BBQ Kitchen.

When did your business open?

27 September, 2018.

What makes your business unique?

I’m Caribbean!

What are some products/services that you offer?

Carribean food – try the jerk chicken!


Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

The only place I could get a place to rent to do my business.

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

Ross Street Patio.

Finish this sentence: I love Downtown because…

It is beautiful.

Check out Chubby Jerk & BBQ Kitchen for great food and an awesome atmosphere! Follow them for updates:

Facebook: Chubby Jerk & BBQ Facebook Page

Check back next week for another business spotlight! If you would like to see your Downtown business spotlighted, please contact us at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com.

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20Aug

Call for nominations for the Red Deer Downtown Business Association Board of Directors

August 20, 2021By

The Red Deer Downtown Business Association is seeking three new members to join our Board of Directors. Interested candidates should be passionate about Downtown Red Deer, interested in contributing to its future, and must be willing to make a commitment to serve a three-year term.

Supported by staff, the Board is responsible to set policy, review progress, and provide direction for the association. Directors are expected to participate in monthly board meetings, an Annual Meeting, along with organizing events and committee responsibilities as required. The time commitment is approximately two hours per month on the third Thursday.

Candidates must be operators or employees of businesses located within the Business Improvement Area (BIA) in the Downtown region and pay the associated levy.

For more information, visit https://downtownreddeer.com/about-us/#boardmembers.

Download a copy of the Board Nomination form here.

Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021.

 

For more information, contact:

Amanda Gould

Executive Director
Red Deer Downtown Business Association
403-340-8696
amanda.gould@downtownreddeer.com
www.downtownreddeer.com

  

Vicki Finlay

Board Chair

Red Deer Downtown Business Association

vmfinlay@telus.net

 

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16Aug

Business Spotlight – Alberta Business and Health Institute

August 16, 2021By

This week’s Business Spotlight shines on the Alberta Business and Health Institute, located at 210, 5009 – 50 Ave. We spoke with the Flora and her team to learn more about their programs and how they set up their students for success!

 

What is your business?

We are a licensed post-secondary school and we are licensed under the Minister of Education through advanced education or private colleges. So we offer post-secondary classes and programs to interested students or those who want to further their career or upgrade their education. All about academics!

When did you open?

2017, but the operation actually started in 2018 because we went through the licensing process. Our first school was in another building, right across from Saputo and above Cash Canada. That’s where we started and when we got a little bigger we moved here [210, 5009 -50 Ave] as we needed a bigger space.

What are some products/services that you offer?

For our courses we have massage therapy, business administration, we have accounting and payroll, medical office assistant and pharmacy assistant and soon to come will be education assistant!

What makes your business unique?

What makes our business unique is that even during these challenging and trying times, we continue to thrive and meet the students’ changing needs without compromising our values and objectives.

Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

We’re all from Calgary, but because we are just starting we didn’t want to start in a big city and Red Deer is the closest option. I think because Downtown is the center of everything and you can come to Downtown from anywhere in Red Deer. Red Deer has a lot of far flung communities so we thought, why not start in the center of Red Deer? Let’s go for it! It’s really accessible to everyone.

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

I think the diversity of the people who are here, who live here and the diversity of the shops and the businesses that are in Downtown.  If you go to Ross St. there is [King] Donair, beside it is City Roast, beside it is Japanese ramen [JusFruit OishiDesu], beside that is Taco Loft! There’s banks, Scotia Bank, RBC, there’s an Artisan Market, there’s pizza over there – all on one street! And on Wednesday’s there is the Farmer’s Market. Everything is here!

Finish this sentence: I love Downtown Red Deer because…

I love Downtown Red Deer because it feels like home. It’s a small city, it feels like you know everyone!

Check out the Alberta Business and Health Institute online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034258592832

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abhinstitute/

Website: https://abhinstitute.com/

 

Check back next week for another business spotlight! If you would like to see your Downtown business spotlighted, please contact us at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com.

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11Aug

Featured Vendor of the Week: Stalder Farms

August 11, 2021By

This week’s featured vendor is Stalder Farms.

We caught up with them at last week’s market to learn a bit more about their business!

What was the inspiration behind your business? 

It is a small family business.

What kind of products do you sell?  

Chemical and pesticide free vegetables.

       

What is your “must try” product? What makes this product unique? 

Green cauliflower.

Tell us an interesting, fun fact about your business: 

I started with my little boys and they are adults now, they learned so many things I didn’t really know.

Can you find your product anywhere else? Where can we find you online? 

Rimbey and Bentley Farmers Market

What is your favourite thing about being in Downtown Red Deer?  

Small, unique market-first year for me.

 

Be sure to check them out at this week’s market and stay tuned for next week’s featured vendor!
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09Aug

Business Spotlight – Made With Love

August 9, 2021By

This week’s Business Spotlight shines on Made With Love, located at 4801 51 Ave. We spoke with Angela and Chandra to learn more about their 100% handmade boutique!

What is your business?

Made With Love.

When did you open?

We opened in May of 2019 but moved to our downtown location in February of 2021.

What would you say makes your business unique?

All of our 70+ vendors that we have in our store are exclusive to Made With Love. You won’t find them in any other stores in Red Deer!

What are some products/services that you offer?

Everything in our store is “Made With Love” by our locally talented vendors. We have items such as home décor, jewelry, candles, clothing, cards, health and wellness products and so much more!

Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?

It’s such a wonderful, convenient location. Right in the heart of Red Deer.

What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?

City Hall Park, the downtown history, Ross Street Patio, The Scott Block Theatre, the great selection of restaurants, the Spray Park. So much!

Finish this sentence: I love Downtown Red Deer because…

…of the sense of community! So many businesses supporting each other. The #shoplocal and #supportsmallbusiness movements are REAL in downtown Red Deer.

 

Visit Made With Love for beautifully handcrafted products or check them out online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madewithlovereddeer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madewithlove_reddeer/?hl=en

Website: http://www.madewithloveshop.ca/

 

Check back next week for another business spotlight! If you would like to see your Downtown business spotlighted, please contact us at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com.

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04Aug

Featured Vendor of the Week: West Country Kettle Corn

August 4, 2021By

This week’s featured vendor is West Country Kettle Corn

We caught up with them at last week’s market to learn a bit more about their business!

What was the inspiration behind your business? 

My mom has been apart of farmers markets for over 40 years. So I’ve been around markets for many years. I worked on the fruit truck for many years and then I decided to branch out on a business of my own. I have family in Edmonton that does kettle corn. Love the product so thought I’d venture out in that area.

What kind of products do you sell?  

My product is kettle corn and 7 other flavours of popcorn.

What is your “must try” product? What makes this product unique? 

Dill pickle ranch is a favourite of many. Our new flavour: white cheddar with roasted garlic and peppers is a great flavour as well. These two products don’t have sugar on them, so it is a product that people with any sugar sensitivity can eat.

Tell us an interesting, fun fact about your business: 

We pop our popcorn on site. We use a large kettle and are stirring it with a paddle. Many people ask if we are washing clothes or brewing up some kind of brew in the soup pot. Even had a fellow vendor buy me a witch hat!

How has your business grown since you first started? 

For the first 8 years in business we did kettle corn only. The last 3 years we added flavours. It’s been a fun adventure trying out various flavours.

Can you find your product anywhere else? Where can we find you online? 

We can now be found in stores.

  • Around Gull Lake:
      • Wooden Shoe, Meredian Market, & Jorgys’s Hot Spot.
  • Sylvan Lake:
      • White Frog
  • Benalto General Store.
  • Lacombe:
      • Cali Trading Company

We are aiming to be in a store of each market area we are at so our customers can find us locally. Still looking for a store in Red Deer.

What is your favourite thing about being in Downtown Red Deer?  

The Downtown Red Deer Market is an interesting market. At this market to see all cultures of people. You also see a small window of what homeless looks like. This market is mainly a food market which is great for those that choose to shop for food grown fresh from Central Alberta.

Starting a business is no small feat, and keeping it going during a public health crisis requires creativity and resilience. How have you adapted to the changing public health orders?

Having a good product, you are always aware of cleanliness. You just keep aware of sanitizing more. Especially [since the] handling of money can carry germs from one to another.

 

Be sure to check them out at this week’s market and stay tuned for next week’s featured vendor!
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