The Lovely Teahouse located in Oro-Medonte is the perfect place to enjoy quality time with your loved ones over a nice homemade pot of tea. Owner Michele Duivenvoorden opened The Lovely Teahouse/House and intimate events venue on October 1st and is grateful for the support she has received from the town since opening.
Michele has been an entrepreneur since the age of 16 and knows the risk it takes to open your own business and the reward when it’s successful. In September of 2020, Michele had planned to open a paint and furniture store called “The Flowered Cow” in Craighurst, but when she walked inside the little church where her business would soon be she knew immediately it was meant to be a tearoom. The church brought back memories with her mom and sister as they would enjoy tea and chat about life, the timing was perfect and it gave her the feeling as though it was meant to be.
Quickly with the help of her husband, she turned her plan around and opened the teahouse. They had so much success in its first few months that she was set to open a second location, but COVID-19 halted the process when restaurants and cafes were closed for in-person dining.
When restaurants and cafes were finally allowed to reopen for in-person dining once again Michele found out the church which the teahouse was in had been sold. At first, there was some heartbreak because the church was incredibly unique and provided the perfect location. The teahouse would need a space that has character and ambiance.
After a lot of searching and turning up empty, she eventually found the perfect location in Oro-Medonte with the help of her brother. On her way to view a house in Orillia, Michele received a call from her brother about the property and she stopped in on her way to view it. As she walked inside, she knew right away it was the perfect place to host intimate events and have a teahouse, the only challenge it posed was the location is a lot larger than the original.
The next day she went back, and The Lovely Teahouse was born. Michele envisioned hosting events like weddings at the venue and the original name “The Flowered Cow” didn’t fit, so she changed the name to “The Lovely Teahouse/House” because she calls everyone, she meets love. Since the location is a lot larger than the original Michele had to get creative with the rest of the space and decided the main floor would be a tearoom and small event space and the second floor is the Wish Bridal Boutique, which is a new adventure for her, and the artisan market which showcases a variety of different local vendors like Mom-to-Mom Maternity and Gemstone Haven Jewelry.
The Wish Bridal Boutique will be a place where brides can come find their dress, share that special moment with their loved ones and enjoy a pot of tea. The name “Wish” is inspired by every little girl wishing for their wedding day and finding their dress. Since dresses are consignment, a portion of the proceeds will go to support mental health, something that is very close to her heart. Additionally, this space can also be transitioned into a bridal parlor where brides can get ready on their wedding day should they choose to have their wedding at The Lovely Teahouse.
On September 23rd the Flowered Cow was closed and The Lovely Teahouse opened October 1st. Michele is grateful for the support of her husband and the rest of her team during that time of transition to have a successful opening day. Because of their support they were able to host a party of 30 and a party of 12 on opening day.
For Michele, tea is about the history behind it and this property has a lot of history tied to it and is a part of the foundation of Oro-Medonte. She has received a lot of support from the community and town officials. The community is happy to see some life brought back into the building once again and for Michele, she sees the business as a chance, and for her, that is something incredible. A teahouse was never planned but is something that she is very passionate about. Tea provides an opening to the conversation and making memories, and she humbles herself in a place where people can come to make memories.
The Lovely Teahouse offers three different tea times. Cream tea is your pot of tea of choice with scones and cookies, clotted cream, and jam. Afternoon tea is your three-layered tray having finger sandwiches on the first layer, scones with clotted cream and jam on the second layer, and desserts as the final layer. Lastly, high tea is their dinner service. With this, you get a traditional pot of tea with hot entrées like soup, salads, and meat pies, and traditional trifles as dessert. If you’re a tea lover, you can also join the new tea club community which is hosted on Wednesdays. This is a time for people to gather for conversation and have the chance to step out of their comfort zone to try new teas and scone recipes.
When you sit down for your cup of tea at the Lovely Teahouse you can picture yourself back in time having traditional teatime. All teas are sourced by a local maker as well as bakery items. The Ivory Cable Knit Sweater black tea is like your typical black tea, but with a hint of rose petals making for a comforting taste. The scones are simply phenomenal and are guaranteed to hook anyone that tries them. The space is so welcoming, and you most certainly will leave with a smile on your face.
Michele is looking forward to creating more memories at the Lovely Teahouse and sharing in special moments. She has started a memory board which you will see at the entrance. She started this board to show her customers how thankful she is for their support and for having the chance to be a part of their day.
If you would like to plan a visit, you can find the Lovely Teahouse at 2449 Hwy 11 and Line 5 in Oro-Medonte. For more unique and local small businesses, visit our shop local business directory at yournortlife.ca.
- The BDAR Team