If enjoying a pour-over coffee while creating a vibrant bouquet of flowers is a pairing that appeals to you, then you may want to pay Forage General a visit.
The newly opened business, located on the corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway (parking available by Domino鈥檚 Pizza) is the creation of Salmon Arm couple Tanisha and Jamie Out and business partner Toni Starkell. The space, open and uncluttered, was inspired, in part, by things and places the Outs enjoyed in Vancouver before moving back to Salmon Arm two years ago.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always been drawn to those things, the minimalist aspect of things, and we wanted to incorporate that into this shop, into this spot,鈥� said Jamie. 鈥淎nd just to kind of give people that experience, stepping into something that maybe they haven鈥檛 seen before, they have鈥檛 experienced.鈥�
Tanisha, an experienced florist, explained part of the concept behind the store鈥檚 flower bar is that it allows customers to be creative with their flower arrangements if they wish to be.
鈥淏efore I was a florist, I鈥檇 go into flower shops and you鈥檇 feel almost intimidated or you didn鈥檛 have the freedom to create,鈥� said Tanisha. 鈥淪o that was kind of the idea with this, to make it an experience where people felt comfortable to be creative and build their own. Or else I could help them through.鈥�
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Along with the assorted fresh flora, Forage General also offers coffees, teas, baking supplied by local bakeries, and a variety of products that fit with the store鈥檚 look and feel.
Asked about the store鈥檚 name, Jamie said the 鈥淔orage鈥� part came from a book about military tanks from the First World War.
鈥淥ne had this amazing hand-drawn maple leaf, and it said 鈥渇orage鈥� in really unique writing,鈥� Jamie explained. 鈥淚 was so drawn to that picture and that word, and it just tied in really well with the idea of foraging for flowers, for greenery and stuff. So we just brought that idea into the name of this. 鈥�
When health restrictions are no longer limiting public gatherings, Jamie and Tanisha are looking forward having window seating for those looking to enjoy a beverage and/or a baked goodies, and they also hope to host a variety of workshops.
Jamie, Tanisha and Toni, and their families put in a lot of the work needed to get Forage General ready for opening. Some of that help came from Tanisha鈥檚 brother, Greg Sebell (Sczebel), who recently co-opened the restaurant BLK BOX in 琉璃神社.
鈥淢y brother and I have always been creative together,鈥� said Tanisha, adding she comes from a family of entrepreneurs.
Forage General is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
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