origins

2014: “Cait’s Kitchen” began in November when Cait found herself unemployed after completing a teaching contract in Orangeville.  Depressed and lost, she turned to baking.   Consequently, the countertops were filled with tarts, cookies, and squares.  Her husband, Spencer, shocked at all the new treats, jokingly said: “I can’t eat another bite; you should sell this stuff!”  The lightbulb went off, and within 24 hours Cait created: a business name;  preliminary logo designs; and a website with delivery schedules to the GTA.  Amusingly, Cait’s family presumed they might be her only customers, hence the GTA schedule- where her family lived!

2015: What began with holiday cookies evolved into a steep pastry learning curve in January after Spencer suggested attempting croissants.  Fast forward to the weekly summer farmer’s market and Cait and Spencer were selling out of their pastry before noon!  On a few occasions, Spencer would run home and whip up a batch of scones to sell before running off to his job as Executive Chef at the Benmiller Inn.  Regulars began to emphasize how nice it would be to have a cafe in town again.

Between the markets, pre-orders, and catering jobs, (as well as working at the Little Inn and teaching online through Virtual High School), Cait needed a full-time chef to grow her business.   By September, Spencer had quit his job and joined forces; which allowed them to take on larger catering contracts and start planning the cafe.

2016: After months of scoping out locations, they stumbled upon a small retail space in downtown Goderich in March.  During that time you could find Cait, Spencer and their contractors knee deep in paint buckets, drywall dust, and nails.   Utility vans were driven back and forth to Toronto auctions or “the graveyards of small business dreams”, as Cait coined them, to pick-up used kitchen equipment, all while fulfilling a busy catering schedule.  Five months later, they would open the door to Cait’s Cafe in the midst of summer.

2021: Now, they are in their fifth year of business with two young kids, and thrilled to be a part of the incredible Goderich community.   The cafe has turned into a refuge for many – a place to meet, unwind, and escape; a place Cait & Spencer are incredibly proud of.  Their menu continues to evolve to accommodate various needs of locals and passersby, and their ability to source coffee beans from local roasters;  veggies & fruit from local organic farmers; and eggs, meat, and cheese from local businesses, is a dream realized.

In retrospect, the decisions that resulted in the birth of the cafe seem pretty risky, but without great risk, there is no great reward.  Cait and Spencer couldn’t be happier they took that leap of faith back in 2014.