St. Brendan's Motel

St. Brendan’s Motel

            What is now St. Brendan’s Motel in St. Lunaire-Griquet began as a hardware store that ran until the collapse of the cod fishery in 1992. The building sat vacant for several years, until the approaching millennium and subsequent Viking celebrations at Lanse aux Meadows presented a new opportunity. Roy Manuel, part-owner (along with brother Percy Manuel, June Coles, and Helen Manuel), drew up the initial plans for a motel that began to take form as other essentials, such as a sewer system, fell into place. The motel opened for business in 2000 with eleven rooms. The owners have recognized the importance of maintaining their rooms, with near yearly renovations including the addition of two extra rooms. Four of their rooms include a single Queen bed, with the rest including two Double beds. All rooms have outside entrances, full bathrooms, mini fridges, flat screen televisions, and more. Their current Canada Select Accomodations rating is 3.5 stars.

            Roy has noted some changes in the tourism industry in the local area. In particular, the Motel is noticing more guests coming earlier in the season, with their first guests for this year arriving in early May. He suggested more emphasis needs to be placed on advertising and marketing things for tourists to do in St. Lunaire-Griquet, including the several hiking trails in the area. One trail, though no longer in good condition, leads to the motel’s namesake, St. Brendan’s Boulder, which displays interesting inscriptions possibly dating back to the sixth century. As we chatted, Roy passionately noted several times the importance of offering guests to the area a slate of things to do, which not only reinforces a positive experience in the minds of visitors, it helps support and present the unique features of the community. 

SABRI Public Meeting: St. Lunaire-Griquet

            Twenty-eight local residents of St. Lunaire-Griquet gathered at the Fire Hall on Monday, February 25^th2019 for a public meeting hosted by St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc (SABRI). Sam Elliott, SABRI Executive Director, and Glenda Noble, Economic Development Officer with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, hosted the session. In discussion was the development of affordable senior’s housing in the region. At present, the location for this housing is the site of the former high school Harriot Curtis Collegiate in St. Anthony. 

            SABRI is in the early stages of gathering information, including insight from current residents in the region. To facilitate this, they are using a neat poll system that allows multiple survey respondents at once and immediate tallying and displaying of the results. On Monday, all meeting participants were given the opportunity to provide valuable insight on their current living situations as well as the kinds of features they would like to see in senior’s housing, such as proximity to amenities, services like snowclearing and lawn maintenance, etc. 

            After the poll was completed, participants were welcomed to hot beverages and sweets after a very important session. From here, SABRI plans to take the survey to the other communities in its region and continue to gather information and resources to see this project come to fruition. 

Glenda Noble and Sam Elliott

Ruth's Beauty Salon

Ruth Earle got creative as a young hairstylist looking for work. As she recalls, “I needed work and I had to create my own work because there was nothing available at the time.” In 1986 she completed her Journeyman credential in Corner Brook as a hairdresser, moving home to St. Lunaire-Griquet not long after and setting up shop in the Firehall in St. Lunaire. Her business operated there until 1991 when it moved to its current location. When she opened, Ruth remembers there being two or three clients visiting the Salon per day; now, they can see upwards of 15 to 24 clients a day, at times so busy they have difficulty keeping up with the phone!

Ruth Earle and Amy Patey at Ruth's Beauty Salon

Ruth’s Beauty Salon is open from Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm, and on Saturdays from 10am-2pm. They offer a wide range of services, including colours, cuts, perms, waxes, men’s cuts, and tanning, which they have offered since 1993. Recently, Ruth’s fellow hairstylist Amy Patey, who has worked with Ruth ten years this past September, began to offer eyelash extensions. The Salon sells hair products as well, in a variety of lines including Redken, Paul Mitchell, Milkshake, and Rusk. Ruth and Amy are constantly upgrading their skills and knowledge, at least once a year attending hair conferences in nearby Corner Brook. Ruth noted that she has observed “what goes around comes around,” when it comes to hair; many of the same styles she sees in her work today are the same ones she was familiar with when she began her work in 1986, except “with a new fling and a different product put in it.” 

Ruth loves her work, and she is great at taking care of her clients. In fact, she often spends Mondays, when the Salon is closed, making housecalls to people who, for whatever reason, are unable to make it to the salon. Reflecting on this stage of her career, Ruth shares, “right now, I’m supposed to be retired; then I said, okay, I’ll semi-retire, but being here, since I love it so much, well most people when they retire take on another job anyway so I said, why do that when I can stay where I am, work the hours I want, take off time that I need.” 

Thanks for the great chat, Ruth!  

Kayla Carroll

Coordinator

Vinland Futures Research and Development Corporation

vinlandfutures.ca 

Hillier's Services Ltd

In 1975, John Hillier opened Hillier’s Services Ltd. In St. Lunaire-Griquet. John operated it as a gas station and automobile service station with the help of two mechanics. They would do inspections on vehicles, motor jobs, brake work, etc.  John ran the business until his passing in 2017 and his son Paul has operated it since. Paul grew up in the business, first remembering working as a gas attendant at around sixteen years old. He runs the business himself now in addition to working with the Department of Transportation and Works since 2006. Hillier’s Services Ltd no longer offers automobile service, but they do have four gas pumps through Western Petroleum. This long-running family business is important to our community and a wonderful place to gas up!

Hillier's Services Ltd in St. Lunaire-Griquet

Kayla Carroll

Coordinator

Vinland Futures Research and Development Corporation 

www.vinlandfutures.ca

@vinlandfutures

Skipper Hott's Lounge, Blake's Cash & Carry, Snorri Cabins, & Southwest Pond Cabins

Ford and Madeline Blake have operated Skipper Hott’s Lounge for twenty-five years. For Ford, it was a lifelong dream to open a bar. He tried back in 1980, but without financial support, he put the dream on hold. Then, while living in Seal Cove, he tried again. Ford explained, “Madeline and I came back [to Straitsview] on June 1, 1993 and on October 2, 1993 we sold our first beer! It was rough; we couldn’t get any money so put our own money into it. No one would look at us for a loan because I mean starting a bar in a place with about 80 people? Come on. They thought I was nuts!” Despite any outside doubts, the Blakes persisted and created a welcoming, friendly place for all to enjoy. The bar’s name pays homage to Ford’s Uncle, Austin Blake. He explained that as a young person, he and his friends would always visit his uncle for parties or to play cards. When he started the bar, he thought it was a good way to recognize his uncle by naming it after him. 

Skipper Hott’s has a weekly dart league as well as various events throughout the year. They have a big Halloween party as well as a huge dance for Boxing Night. They also host weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas parties and various other special events. Beginning with the Iceberg Festival in the summer, they have Newfie night every Friday night. Ford explained, “we have a band in every Friday evening at 7:30. We serve food and we do Screech Ins.” They’re kept quite busy, seeing upwards of 20 participants a night. The Blakes noted that they’ve created a legacy at Skipper Hott’s. Many people enjoy returning over and over again to enjoy the great atmosphere the Blakes have created. Madeline noted, “sometimes we’ll say, ‘well, this is the last of it now we won’t bother’ and then by and by someone will come in and say, ‘oh my, I’m so glad you’re still here! I love to come back.” It’s that kind of excitement and celebration of the place that makes it so special. About fifteen years ago, The Blakes added a convenience store to Skipper Hotts. Called Blake’s Cash and Carry, they sell various confectionary. They also sell pub grub (with chicken fingers to write home about!).

In 1999, Ford and Madeline expanded their business, opening Snorri Cabins in Straitsview. They have six cabins total, 2 one bedroom and 4 two bedroom. They’re open all year round, offering accommodations to tourists and anyone needing lodging. Then, in 2010, they purchased Southwest Pond Cabins, adding two cabins to make ten total. 3 have one bedroom and 7 have two bedrooms. They’re open from May to the end of September.  

Ford and Madeline are wonderful people with important businesses in our region. It was special to talk to them about their businesses; Thanks, folks! 

Kayla Carroll

Coordinator

Vinland Futures Research and Development Corporation 

www.vinlandfutures.ca

@vinlandfutures

J&K Roadside Convenience & Beachy Cove Cabins

Joy and Ken Hedderson purchased what is now J & K Roadside Convenience in 2000.
They have since built on an addition for storage of stock, and also completed other
renovations. Initially, they were franchised through Lewisporte Wholesale. Now they are
with Kwik Way, offering their own weekly sales that are advertised through Facebook. I
sat down with Joy earlier this week to discuss their business, enjoying coffee and
homemade cookies while chatting about changes in their business since they first took
over eighteen years ago.

Joy often works behind the cash at J&K, offering friendly smiles and conversation to all
her customers. They sell groceries, hardware, lotto, tobacco and gas—it’s the only gas
station from L’Anse aux Meadows to St. Lunaire-Griquet. Joy noted she loves working at
the store to meet people and interact with the public. She said, “I enjoy getting up every
morning and going to the store. It’s nice to be out there meeting people. At least you’re
not bored!” The store has raised quite a lot of money for the local fire brigade as well,
hosting a weekly 50/50 draw since 2008.

Joy Hedderson  behind the cash at J & K Roadside Convenience

In 2016, the Heddersons opened Beachy Cove Cabins in Straitsview. They have two
cabins, each with two bedrooms with queen-sized beds, as well as internet and all the
amenities one would need while travelling. Joy gave me a tour of the beautiful spaces,
and I appreciated the wood paneling and hardwood floor throughout. They’ve had two
busy summers with the cabins and have high hopes for the future. Please visit their
website and have a closer look: https://www.beachycovecabins.ca.

J&K Roadside Convenience is a great family-run business and I highly recommend
anyone to check them out. Thanks, Joy!

Kayla Carroll
Coordinator
Vinland Futures Research and Development Corporation
www.vinlandfutures.ca
@vinlandfutures

Burden's Store, Burden's Trucking & Burden's Ice Plant

Burden’s General Store, Burden’s Trucking, Burden’s Ice Plant
St. Lunaire, NL

When Graham Burden opened his doors in 1959, he was located in a small “bunkhouse,”
a small building just ten by twenty feet. The business was located near his house in St.
Lunaire until moving to its present location in 1987, with one expansion about ten years
ago and another one in the works. Today, the store is centrally located in St. Lunaire and
sells groceries, hardware, and building supplies. Eight of his nine children work in the
family business, and I was lucky to speak with his children Karen, Kerry, and Keith,
about their family business. Graham is semi-retired, though Karen notes they keep him
informed and ask his opinion on any business decisions.

Karen has worked at the family business her whole adult life, or as she says, “I always
say since I could work. I worked afterschool and on weekends.” She enjoys working at
Burden’s, noting, “I like the busy-ness, dealing with the public, meeting all these people,
I love getting up in the morning and coming here because every day is different.” Karen’s
friendly demeanor is always a pleasure for customers, as is her helpfulness. She works in
accounts receivable and payable as well as working on cash.

Burden’s Store appears to have a “following” not only in the local area but from the St.
Anthony region and also Raleigh and Ship Cove. One may think, “If you cannot get it at
Burden’s – you don’t need it!” The family extends a warm welcome to everyone who
walks through their doors – and often greeting them on a first name basis. They have a
weekly flyer, and if any item is not in stock, they will special order and do that as soon as
possible.

Karen, Keith, and Kerry at Burden's General Store 

Keith runs Burden’s Trucking and Burden’s Ice Plant, which is located at the wharf in St.
Lunaire. The company owns seven tractor trailers and two flatbed trucks for cargo. As
Keith notes, “mostly we truck fresh fish, shellfish, groundfish around the island; we take
frozen product off the Northern Peninsula into Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.” They
also have an offloading company that offloads these products before they’re shipped to
other locations. The ice plant provides ice for the offloaded product as well as ice for
interested customers.

The family enjoys working together and serving the public. Many of the eight siblings
have lunch every day at their mother’s house and it’s not uncommon to see their smiling
faces at Burden’s General Store every time you enter. It was a pleasure to learn more
about this important business in our community. Thanks, folks!

Kayla Carroll
Coordinator
Vinland Futures Research and Development Corporation
www.vinlandfutures.ca
@vinlandfutures