Kathy Moger, proprieter of The Cook’s Corner in Morrisburg is seen in the workspace of the storefront. A community minded individual, she is a member of the Morrisburg Business Improvement Association and the Morrisburg and District Lions Club. Thompson Goddard Photo

MORRISBURG – Upon entering The Cook’s Corner, one is greeted with a welcoming smile and a hearty hello by owner/operator Kathy Moger. She provided a brief history of the business, which has been a staple of the community for several years.

While the business has always been in the East Promenade Mall in Morrisburg, Moger explained she recently moved its location to 135 Main Street, a few doors down from where the store began several years ago. She mentioned originally it was a bulk food and cake decorating business, with the second owner operating it as a winemaking and bulk food store. She mentioned how she was in the process of making a career change and when The Cook’s Corner came up for sale, she and husband Steve Broadbent decided to purchase it in 2014. Moger operated the business for several years with her brother until his retirement and is currently transitioning the store to a make your own wine business only. To operate a make your own wine business, an operator has to have a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario which has to be renewed every five years, with requirements fulfilled and inspections carried out.

“I love the people,” said Moger when asked about her favourite part of the business. She explained how the people are very welcoming, helped her as she began her business and coped with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which presented challenges to overcome. She explained how during the first year of the pandemic there was an increase in the sale of bulk food items, noting that people travelled from as far away as Ottawa to purchase baking supplies. In the second year of the pandemic, the bulk food sales declined, with an increase in the wine making side of the business. Moger commented how it was the support of her clients, which continues to the present time, that helped her to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic.

She explained the process of making your own wine begins with several decisions. The client will initially look through a book of available wines, with a large selection to choose from, and whether the purchase will be a four-, six- or eight-week kit. She mentioned the longer the production time, the more concentrate is in the kit which results in a fuller flavour in the finished product and in some cases a higher alcoholic level.

Each kit will produce 28 bottles of wine, with a choice of creating a red wine, white wine or wine cooler. Moger commented the business has concentrates from many countries including Italy, France, Chili, Australia and the United States.

The cost of the kit includes labels, cork, shrinks (which cover the cork), but not the bottles which can be purchased on site, or the client can bring their own. After payment is received, Moger mixes the concentrate and water, with the client sprinkling the yeast on its top, then it is stored for the appropriate period of time. After filtering the wine, an appointment is booked for the client to bottle the wine which generally takes about 20 minutes. Moger mentioned how the process of making your own wine is very social, noting there is the opportunity for visiting while making the decisions and while bottling.

Moger enjoys running her business, commenting how it provides an opportunity to be your own boss, a certain amount of independence and flexibility to make your own schedule. She recommends anyone thinking about running a business to do the research to ensure the viability of the undertaking.

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