Chances are, if you live in Bradford West Gwillimbury, you know Nancy Young.
The lifelong local resident is a former public school teacher, who taught everything from music, to family studies, before opening Nancy’s Nifty Nook on Holland Street, between Dissette and Barrie streets, in 1988.
Young branded it as “more than just a bulk store,” and she is celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend.
“I saw the sign, I walked in, and three days later I owned it,” she said.
While Nancy’s Nifty Nook has plenty of bulk foods, Young said she is starting to get rid of some of them in favour of more gluten-free items, including her own popular homemade baking, supplements, organic products, raw foods, probiotics, and food that fits into keto and paleo diets.
“Less people buy candy (in bulk). Candy is kind of passe,” she said.
Young started selling supplements and gluten-free products years ago, and now supplements make up about 65-75 per cent of her business, she said.
Some of her biggest sellers are echinacea, oil of oregano, and Natural Calm, she said, adding she tries to stock Canadian-made products, especially local to Ontario, as much as possible.
“If I didn’t get into health supplements, someone (else) would. I love it because you’re helping people.”
Her introduction to the needs of people with celiac disease came six or seven years ago after she tried gluten-free baked goods that were not that tasty.
“I like to cook and bake. I thought, ‘I could do better than that,’” she said. “I bake all year round.”
Young’s carrot cake is the most popular gluten-free item she sells. She makes it and many other treats herself in a kitchen just off the main store area.
Also passionate about protecting the environment, Young was ahead of her time in reducing plastic waste in her store. She eliminated carry-out plastic bags eight to 10 years ago.
While she offers customers little plastic bags for bulk foods, she plans to do a big push in the New Year to eliminate those in favour of people bringing their own containers, which she said many already do.
For Young, owning a store is in her blood. Her great-grandfather owned Hill’s General Store in Elmvale, and it is where she said her great-grandparents met “over a spool of thread.”
In tribute to them, she has old wooden quart and pint containers hung on the wall behind her counter, next to a 1911 calendar.
The items harken back to a time of personal customer service, which she aims to keep alive and well in her own store.
“We’re a local business. We give good service. We’re here to help. A lot of big-box stores don’t do that anymore,” she said.
“Some (people), all they need is for somebody to listen to them. I’m the type of person that cares about people, who wants to help other people. Our family’s values are to look out for fellow man.”
Young said she would like to see more BWG residents support local businesses and help them thrive.
“We should be able to get more and more customers in all the time. Support the local people before you go further afield,” she said.
With Nancy’s Nifty Nook’s 30th anniversary coming up this Saturday, Young said she has no plans to quit anytime soon, despite her husband, Gord, already being retired.
“He’s the second CEO, he says. He’s a great house-husband. He’s my gofer,” she said, with a laugh. “I don’t have plans for retirement yet. We didn’t wait for retirement to do our travelling. This is what I really enjoy doing.”
Nancy’s Nifty Nook 30th anniversary
WHEN: Nov. 24
TIME: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., BWG Mayor Rob Keffer will present a certificate of appreciation at 1 pm.
For more information about Nancy’s Nifty Nook, stop by the store at 152 Holland St. E., visit the Facebook page, or visit nancysniftynook.net.
Midweek Mugging is a regular series profiling local businesses or interesting people in Bradford West Gwillimbury. Want to be featured? Email [email protected].
