Victoria’s Read

Switzerland born, Anita Smylie came to North Bay to learn English. ‘My boss at the time knew a man here who could teach me English so I could get a better job back home.” That man would turn out to be her future husbands father. Anita and Clark have been married now for twelve years and run their business very much like their marriage; as a team.

Anita had been working for the Second Cup in the North Bay Mall for only six months before the owners decided that they wanted to sell. “I thought that the business was in a good area but knew it would be a lot of work.”

Anita and Clark have two small children and share the responsibility of raising happy children. “When I’m working, my husband takes care of the children and visa versa.” Anita admits that owning her own business is a 24 hr a day job so quality time with her family is always very well spent.

June 1st 1999, Anita became a first time business woman and Café Botanica was born. “It took some time to establish some good suppliers and to discover what would sell.”

Café Botanica offers Fairtrade organic coffee and tea as well as protein enriched fruit smoothies, made from real fruit. “We also have sugar free Italian sodas and soy milk.” Anita sells quality giftware and giftbaskets, made to your personal requirements. 

Café Botanica also promotes the local pottery company, Stonethrow Pottery. Owners, Bas and Liliane Oorschot are makers of functional stoneware.

Anita says that she never regrets taking the plunge to open her own business. “My customers are wonderful and I love that Café Botanica has become the regular meeting place for my loyal customers.”

Writen by:  Victoria Evangeline Reed