Breakfast at Samuel's

 Summerside to get new coffee shop

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Caption: Mona Matheson stands inside the doors of Samuel’s Coffee Shop on Harbour Drive. She plans to open up for business in July. Photo Quigley / Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- Mona Matheson has had a twenty-year dream.

After hearing stories from her grandfather, who owned two businesses in downtown Summerside, about how busy and vibrant it used to be, she wanted to open a café in the area.

Sometimes dreams do come true. Matheson is preparing to open “Samuel’s Coffee Shop” on Harbour Drive in July.

The coffee shop, named after one of her ancestors Samuel Holland, will serve coffee roasted in Halifax, specialty coffees, specialty teas, baked goods and more. Matheson also plans to have historical memorabilia on the walls relating to Summerside in the past.

Matheson said she believes downtown Summerside is having a resurgence and that she wants to be part of it.

“So then it was just trying to come up with a concept that would contribute to the downtown and contribute to the community.”

Matheson said that her vision is to have her coffee shop be a welcoming spot for things from business meetings to families.

“I think everybody has products, whether your product is coffee or specialty tea, I think ours’ is going to be serving people, providing an environment for people to go spend time with colleagues or friends or families,” she said. “So that’s the void we’re looking to fill.”

Matheson said she believes history in Summerside is important as to why she is going to decorate with the past.

“We’re going to be selling coffee and tea but we’re providing an experience and so the historical component fills that experience,” said Matheson. “I feel we should draw on it as much as we can. Its a vocal point not just for ourselves to understand the history that’s there, but for visitors.”

She said that she would like to collaborate with people in the community as much as she can.

“I see just a vision down the road of this being a coffee house people will want to gather and share stories in, or someone will want to put their art on the wall or somebody might say I do local pottery and I’d like your coffee to be served in this.”

Matheson said she hopes that her business matches the demands of Summerside and that it’s around for a long time.

“I feel that the community together can predetermine the destiny of what our community is and I think it’s just to look for things we would like in the city and create them.”