What makes the spot so special is the whimsical-themed rooms. Each of the seven (soon to be fourteen) rooms has a different theme, such as glam, beer, cabin and more.

“Each experience is different. So each time you see a different room, it’s a completely different hotel in a way,” Smith states.

Starting in the kitchen of Roxena Nigh’s family farm in 1958, the local chocolate shop has since moved to its current Stevensville location and is now run by Roxena’s son Richard Nigh and daughter-in-law, Rebecca.

The sweet shop has become a generational tradition for many locals. The love that customers have for the popular treats has kept them coming back for decades.

“We have such a loyal customer base. We are just so, so honoured,” Nigh states. “With some customers, I’ve seen the children grow up and now they’re bringing their kids. It’s so neat.”

Nigh’s Sweet Shop serves endless supplies of chocolate and other treats, but Rebecca says some of their most popular items include chocolate drizzled caramel corn, Nigh bars and chocolate-covered licorice.

With six different Picards Peanuts locations, the Fort Erie shop was the last to open its doors in 2019.

The family-owned business, which started in Simcoe, has been around since 1979 and is easily recognizable with its traditional blue barn exterior.

Named “Home of the Ontario Peanut”, the spot offers a variety of products including their popular chip nuts and brings in visitors from around the globe.

Store Manager, Sandra Ferguson, says the location is a very popular spot for tourists and locals alike.

“Over summer we have tourists from all over the world,” Ferguson states. When it comes to new customers, “word of mouth” is one of the main ways people come through the door.

When it comes to running a decor and lifestyle boutique, Sarah Chevalier says it’s in her blood.

Growing up in antique shops, always decorating, and helping her father build furniture, it was only a matter of time before she started running Lasting Impressions Gifts and Clothing.

Nestled into the heart of Ridgeway, the adorable shop sells a little bit of everything, including home decor, clothing, accessories, and baby toys.

Chevalier says there are three rules when it comes to stocking the shelves in her store, “It either has to make me laugh, smile or make me happy in some way.”

While there are a variety of customers that visit, the support and love from local customers are truly what makes the shop so special.

“It’s been locals through and through that have kept me alive,” Chevalier says. “They’re amazing. They’re the heartbeat.”

Nichole L’Hirondelle, owner of Barnswallow Tea and Book Shop Inc., focuses on selling Indigenous books, teas and learning tools.

Opening its doors in March of this year, L’Hirondelle says choosing Bridgeburg was an important part of the business.

“There’s the Niagara River here. And the Niagara River, of course, is really traditional and sacred to a lot of Indigenous people. So I’m right on the Niagara River and that means a lot to me.”

“Fort Erie also has one of the higher concentrations of Indigenous people in all of Niagara. There is a very active Friendship Centre here.”

One of L’Hirondelle’s main goals is to ensure her customers are always happy. She hosts a book club and gets authors in for book signings. The shop also has a program where you can pay it forward and buy a cup of tea or coffee for a future visitor to the shop. The space is the perfect spot to continue to nourish the community.