It’s been less than nine months since Chris and Maria Holbrow of Forgotten Flavours first introduced their artisanal bread to the residents of Niverville. The company is already ripe for expansion.
At a morning council meeting on May 2, the entrepreneurial couple sought a conditional use permit to open a public bakery and café at 69 Main Street, the location that formerly served as the local post office for more than half a century.
The couple’s goal has been to find the perfect location for their expanded bakery kitchen, retail storefront, and cozy café. This building, they believe, may be the one. While the couple’s hopes are high, they admit there are still a few uncertainties about the feasibility of this spot.
But word travels fast in a small town that is hungering for more ways to enjoy Maria’s home-baked goodness.
“The only reason we didn’t want to share anything just yet is because we didn’t want to get everybody’s hopes up, including ourselves,” muses Chris.
According to Chris, they have explored a number of options to expand their bakery. However, something about this building and location kept bringing them back.
“A bakery really is sort of nostalgic for a community, and it’s one of the oldest trades in the world,” he says. “To be in a fresh new building would be nice. But typically bakeries, to me anyway, feel like they need to be in a classic building.”
This feeling, he says, may be due to Maria’s strong connection to Europe, where charming historical buildings are ubiquitous. And according to the Holbrows, the old post office building has a lot going for it.
“We saw the crosswalk right there leading up to the building and we could imagine people having a nice little walk down to their local bakery, whether it’s first thing in the morning to get fresh bread or throughout the day to get pastries and coffee.”
The large front windows, of course, create the ideal viewing gallery for fresh breads, pastries, and rolls. The back of the building has ample space for a large kitchen installation, leaving plenty of room up front for retail space and café seating.
There’s also six feet of clearance between the building and sidewalk to provide the perfect spot for some attractive outdoor dining.
“As much as we really do like this spot, we have to be cognizant that there could be some things that could cause us to choose [another location],” Holbrow admits.
It will take some time yet, he says, to get through the due diligence phase before making a firm decision. Inspectors need to come in to ensure that the materials used in the construction of the building meet the code for a food establishment. As well, the couple will need assurances that electrical service can be provided to meet the demands of the ovens and equipment they’ll be running daily.
Council, too, have shown interest in the Holbrows idea, which would help restore the old building and rejuvenate Main Street. At the May meeting, they all voted in favour of approving the request with only a few conditions. These include requirements for the Holbrows to keep seating to a maximum of 16 and ensure that the outdoor patio does not encroach on the sidewalk.
“If it can bring people to downtown… I’d like to explore ways [to make it work],” said Councillor Nathan Dueck. “I would really love to sit down at a business on Main Street and watch the world go by.”
Dueck encouraged council to work hard in the coming year to look at ways to improve the corner location to provide better drainage and parking options.
Councillor Chris Wiebe inquired who would take responsibility if defacement, such as graffiti, continues to be a problem on the west-facing side of the building.
“It is our brand and we would look to do everything that we can to beautify the building and maintain a very nice bakery in town,” Holbrow responded.
A Success Story
Beginning in the retrofitted basement of the Holbrow home, Forgotten Flavours got its start only months ago. Maria’s wild yeast breads and pate de fruits were an instant hit at the makers markets they regularly attended.
In September 2022, they began advertising their wares to the local area, with a delivery option. It took off in a way they never expected. Today, they’ve expanded into the retail market through the Niverville Community General Store. Their customers come from every surrounding community, and even Winnipeg.
“If I was a betting man, I would have lost my shirt on this one,” Chris says. “I never thought it would have [become successful] this quickly. We went from basically 12 loaves a week in September of last year to over 100 loaves per week in early April.”
They still do home deliveries to residents of Niverville, which takes hours out of every week. But keeping up with demand and offering a greater variety of goodies means an expansion is inevitable.
Adding a café to the model, they feel, will provide a personalized touch.
“It will certainly bring different challenges, but Maria and I are always up for a challenge,” Holbrow says. “With my operational experience in retail and restaurants and Maria’s ability to create lovely baking that you won’t find anywhere else, [we’re not concerned].”
The History of the Old Post Office Building
The building known as the “old post office” is the site of some local history. The property was purchased in 1962 by the Niverville Promoters Society (NPS), a group of community champions who envisioned the establishment of Niverville as a regional hub.
Soon after, a building was constructed here and promoted as Niverville’s first medical office. The group set to work attracting doctors. The initiative was so successful that the NPS eventually expanded on the building, creating what we see today.
Sometime in the late sixties, the medical office was relocated and the building at 69 Main was transformed into Niverville’s post office. It served that purpose until 2022.
According to the Niverville History Book, the first local post office was established in 1879. According to historian Ernie Braun, Niverville became the main postal hub for the entire Mennonite East Reserve.
From 1959 to 1964, outgoing mail was delivered by the postmaster to the train station every morning with the exception of Good Friday. Every evening, incoming mail was picked up at the train station. On most days, the train was delayed by several hours.
In 1964, mail delivery to the Niverville post office changed from train service to truck service. When the post office moved to its location at 69 Main Street in 1968, 752 post boxes were created to serve the community and surrounding area.
