As Canadians swap their U.S. travel plans to explore their own backyards this summer, they will be looking for destinations offering delicious food, unique shopping, and one-of-a-kind experiences. All of that can be found at Millbrook Mercantile, a one-stop shop for dining and local shopping located in the Township of Cavan-Monaghan, one of eight townships in Peterborough County.
Bringing decades of hospitality and culinary experience to the village, Bernadette MacNeil and Lance Nachoff founded Millbrook Mercantile in 2019 to offer a storefront with a little something for everyone. A modern mix of a family deli and old-school general store, the award-winning Millbrook Mercantile offers gourmet prepared food and pantry staples, as well as high-quality home décor, fashion, and wellness products sourced from small businesses based locally and across Canada.
On the seasonal street-side patio, guests can enjoy the tastes of the region through Millbrook Mercantile’s homemade soups, charcuteries, salads, and boutique wines. From blue cheese and goat cheese to Gouda and brie, more than 100 cheeses — many produced in Canada — can be found at the shop. These cheeses can be enjoyed along with other housemade jams and crackers through the store’s Cheese of the Month Club membership.
Millbrook Mercantile’s organic bison, used in prepared meals like the frozen chili, comes from Century Game Park in Warkworth in Northumberland County, while vegetables and produce used in the prepared meals come from venders of the Millbrook Farmers’ Market, Millbrook Orchards, and other local small-scale harvesters. The store uses and sells barbecue sauce from Northumberland County’s Saucy Dotty’s Gourmet Sauce, as well as maple syrup from Millbrook’s Puddleduck Farm and honey from Hunnabees Honey & Co., also made in Millbrook.
Beyond the great tastes found in the marketspace, Millbrook Mercantile offers a curated selection of Bernadette’s favourite clothing, jewellery, handbags, and other products from around the world that cannot be found elsewhere locally. From 100 per cent cotton pajamas that by Oakville’s Mahogany to ethical artisan goods from Ottawa’s Pokoloko, all the clothing sold in-store is made with all-natural fibres. Shoppers can also find original artwork made by local and regional artists, including pottery from Barry’s Bay cottager Janet Cann and watercolour paintings from Lakefield’s Linda Anderson.
Millbrook Mercantile also supports local small businesses, artists, and markers by being an event space for book launches, a charcuterie-making fundraising initiative, and other community events.
To further uplift Millbrook as a tourism destination in Peterborough County, the business is a repeat sponsor for 4th Line Theatre, and Lance and Bernadette support those living in the village by being regular financial and food donors to the Millbrook Food Bank.
If that’s not enough to support Millbrook’s businesses and residents, Lance sits on the board of directors for the Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society and on the advisory committee for the Millbrook Valley Trails, and has been heavily involved with the Millbrook BIA.
Through Millbrook Mercantile and their support of the community, both Lance and Bernadette are committed to making Millbrook not only an ideal place to live, but a destination village for visitors from across Canada and beyond.
Located at 28 King Street East in downtown Millbrook, Millbrook Mercantile is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit millbrookmercantile.com or follow them on Facebook.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
