Project 2 – Lease to a Sale
In 2011, the aging members of the Sangudo branch of the Royal Canadian Legion made a decision to sell their hall, located on main street.
Two energetic entrepreneurs, Carol Ohler and Jenny Walker, had been exploring the potential to open a new needed business, a restaurant. The intent was to be a coffee shop, with homemade soups, sandwiches, and salads. It was to be one of those cozy, warm places that people love to visit with great coffee grandma’s apple pie.
SODC worked with these entrepreneurs to evaluate their business plan, and then raised capital from new and existing members to purchase the building. A 3-year lease was developed, similar to the one used in Project 1. It allowed the entrepreneurs to pay reasonably small monthly payments plus an agreed percentage of revenue each quarter.
This lease also included a first right for the entrepreneurs to purchase the real estate at the end of the term, at a pre-agreed and reasonable price.
Connections Coffee House opened in December 2011. Besides being a daytime coffee shop, it was a community gathering place for special events such as themed dinners, musical concerts, murder mystery nights, organizational meeting place, etc.
It also served as a consignment facility for local artisans, to display and sell their creations.
At the end of the 3-year lease, Carol purchased the real estate from SODC.
The business continued to thrive. In 2018, the business was sold to another local entrepreneur. The harsh fallout of COVID led to a failure of the business.
In 2023, Anne Kazonay, a red-seal chef took over the building and continues to operate successfully as The Jaded Chef (restaurant and catering) and The Frozen Kitchen (selling frozen meals to customers in Edmonton and area).