The Overflow Café
The Overflow CaféMichele Smeets opened The Overflow Café in February 2017. Formerly The British Shoppe, the name The Overflow Café came to her in a dream. “I saw the café filled with people and more lined up out the door. The café was literally overflowing,” she explains. Smeets ran the name past her former employer and The British Shoppe owner, Irene, who replied, “I like it! It’s kind of like your cup is overflowing!” This also explains how the café’s logo came to be an overflowing teacup.
Smeets worked at the British Shoppe for two and a half years when Irene decided to sell the business. With over twenty years of experience as a baker, cook and server, Smeets decided to take a leap of faith, purchase the business and become her own boss. “Irene made the transition easy by showing me everything I needed to know in the café, kitchen and behind the scenes. The customers have also encouraged and supported me. Everyone wants me to succeed.” Some of her most loyal customers are the staff who work at the nearby businesses.
One of the first decisions Smeets made was to remove the retail part of the shop and add additional seating. “We had people waiting in line at the door so it just made sense to add more tables.” The Overflow Café serves all-day breakfast, bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie, quiche, loaded sandwiches and salads. “For over thirty years, there has been a food establishment at this location with a loyal clientele. I wanted to keep some of the old favorites on the menu for them and I added new items to attract new customers. The menu has some healthy options too, and we currently offer take-out and have plans to add grab-and-go items like small salads and wraps.”
Smeets wants The Overflow Café to expose her customers to some of the many talented people who work and live in Sarnia-Lambton. “I want this place to overflow into the community. I want to support local artists by displaying their work in the café. I want a place for bakers and chefs to be encouraged and live out their dreams. That’s my vision.” Smeets also dreams of expanding so she can add big, comfy chairs where customers can chat and relax with a coffee and pastry. “In the near future, I plan to open for dinner and have some live, acoustic music in here. There is so much talent here in Sarnia and I would love the café to be a place to showcase it.”
For Smeets, the most rewarding part of owning The Overflow Café is getting to know her customers, seeing them happy and watching them return over and over. “I care about my customers and they care about seeing me succeed. That brings me so much joy. It feels like family just hanging out, eating and telling stories.” The Overflow Café, located in the Northgate Plaza at 850 Colbourne Road in Sarnia, is open Tuesday to Saturday 9am-4pm.
Related Stories
This year, the YMCA celebrates their 100th anniversary in the community. Officially organized in Sarnia as a boys' camp in the old Wees Beach Hotel, the YMCA has always focused on the needs of local families. Throughout the years, the YMCA has offered programming at many different locations, inclu
Sarnia Historical Society
The Sarnia Historical Society is doing their part to preserve local history. First established forty years ago, the volunteer-run organization sat in limbo for a number of years before the newest group of community leaders stepped forward. Ron Reale-Smith, Laura Greaves and Phil Egan were appointed t
Greg's Auto Detailing
If you'll excuse the pun, the success of Greg's Auto Detailing is in, well, the details. Detailing a vehicle takes a lot of time, says owner Greg Honke, 47. A lot of people think detailing is an hour or two and you are out the door. But if you take pride in what you do and you want to d
Carpenters Union - Local 1256
In 1942, Carpenters Local 1256 was formed to help their members achieve success through education and training to develop skill, quality, productivity, and safety. They are focused on developing professional tradespeople who are experts in their craft. Our members touch so many different parts
Related Stories
The Nut Bar
You can't walk by The Nut Bar without noticing the incredible smell. Miranda Sheppard started the business out of her home in October of 2016 and hasn't stopped expanding since. Trips to Tennessee were Sheppard's original inspiration. There was always a guy there roasting in copper kettles.
Preferred Towing
Tammy Vandenheuvel admits that even now, some 25 years after she and her husband Gary first opened the doors to Preferred Towing, the ringing of a phone at the company's Indian Road South headquarters comes with a sense of uncertainty. "We never really know what's on the other end of the phone, but
Robert E. Dale Consulting Engineers
Robert E. Dale Limited, Consulting Engineers was founded in 1991. I started the firm with my wife, Linda. I had worked in the industry for seventeen years and we had always talked about starting our own company, says Robert Dale. Their original location was on Pontiac Drive, before moving to V
River City Vineyard
When it comes to caring for the homeless and those in need, Renee Card and Audrey Kelway think The Beatles nailed it when they sang: All You Need Is Love. Of course, that is a rather simple and idealistic approach to an otherwise huge problem, but love is certainly the foundation at River City Viney
