SYDNEY, N.S. — The smell of freshly ground coffee will not only awaken the senses but possibly the wallets of shoppers at a new downtown Sydney women’s fashion retailer.
One year out of university, Tori Horvath, 23, is opening a coffee-shopping boutique in the former Jacobson’s Ladies Wear building on Charlotte Street called Boysenberry Boutique + Café.
It’s a trendy combination that has its roots in China where women will sip on a coffee or latte while perusing the latest fashions online using a tablet or smartphone. It’s seen as a strategy to get more people visiting brick-and-mortar shops.
Horvath doesn’t have an online store yet, but ladies’ apparel for sale is located above the café on the second floor of the building.
Her target market is women ages 25 to 35 but others are welcome. She’s cognizant that men may be reluctant to walk into a women’s clothing store but she wants to set them at ease — the café is open to everyone and if you’re looking for a gift for the woman in your life you’re able to do so, too.
The dream was built with the help of her mother, Kim Horvath.
“It’s kind of been like a mother-daughter project this whole time. It’s been a very long process. I believe it’s been over a year for sure,” said Tori Horvath, who graduated in May 2018 with a bachelor of business administration degree from Cape Breton University.
Her mother was instrumental during the design of the space, she said, adding it was a great “bonding project.”
Kim Horvath bought the Jacobson’s Ladies Wear property in May 2018 from Lang Investments Corp. for $150,000. Back in December 2009, she won a $3.8 million 6/49 lottery jackpot
“We've had a pretty good life, so I’m just hoping things go the same. The biggest dream will be the kids,” Kim told reporters at the time in Moncton, N.B.
The building had been vacant since Jacobson’s closed after 75 years in operation in 2015.
Recently in downtown Sydney, new businesses have been opening, while others celebrate moves to new spaces.
The recent one-year anniversary of health and fitness studio Charlotte at Charlotte, a small art gallery opening by Gary LeDrew and the relocation of the Cape Breton Fudge Company to the former Rascalz Kidz Clothing store are proof local entrepreneurs believe in the downtown, said Michelle Wilson, executive director of the Sydney Downtown Development Association.
“I think the overall vibe is positive and exciting. There are young entrepreneurs that are coming and opening and trying new things downtown,” she said.
There are still some storefronts that remain vacant such as Smart Shop Place and the former Bargain Shop location. Wilson said there’s “a bit of a ways to go” but the downtown is “slowly” seeing improvement year over year.
“I know Tori’s going to be open some evenings so I’m hoping that will encourage a few other people to grab on to that concept and extend their business hours a little bit to help create some vibrancy in the evenings as well.”
Horvath’s boutique and café opens today at noontime. She has hired five part-time staffers to serve patrons.
The large space will allow the business to be flexible with what it offers including socials, trivia nights and private events.
The building’s basement floor is empty right now but it’s expected to be home to the Middle Ground Market sometime in the fall.
Last November, the market popped up each Saturday over a four-week period leading up to Christmas in the former Rascalz Kidz Clothing store, giving consumers a chance to meet and buy from local artisans and crafters who don’t have a permanent presence in downtown Sydney.
Horvath said the space will give the market a permanent home. Details on when it’ll open are still being worked out, she said.
“It will be a full-year project. It won’t just be over Christmas.”
Twitter: @cbpost_chris
