Eyes On Tecumseh Business Spotlight: Cycling, Wine, Whisky, Vision Care & Ice Cream
With its rich history, booming businesses, and growing neighbourhoods, the Town of Tecumseh is vibrant with possibility. These “business spotlights” are designed to take you wandering through new businesses, or ones that you may have forgotten about! Whether you’re a resident or visitor, we hope to keep you falling in love with the small-town charm of this little nook of Windsor-Essex.
This week’s edition of the “Eyes On Tecumseh Business Spotlight” features Cycle Culture, Just Cork It, Karma Wine and Whisky Lounge, Dr. Ali Siblani O.D. of SBLV Eye Care, and Slinky’s Ice Cream.
Cycle Culture Bicycle Shop
Push Play and Pedal Outside
Established in 2013, Cycle Culture in Tecumseh was founded by professional cyclists that love to ride bikes. With decades of combined experience in both racing and operating bicycle shops these sport-minded enthusiasts are committed to satisfying the needs of both casual and pro cyclists.
Cycle Culture co-owner Adam McClounie at his bicycle shop in Tecumseh, ON. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Offering a wide selection of top-of-the-line bicycles brands the team will go out of their way to help you choose the best one for your needs. In addition, the store carries everything from parts and accessories to clothing, shoes, gloves, helmets and more.
The bike shop also offers full service bicycle maintenance and professional repair services. Cycle Culture is happy to take care of any bike, whether or not it was purchased from them or elsewhere.
Co-owner Adam McClounie explained, “there’s a super active community and really progressive BIA in Tecumseh. We knew we had to be on this side of town and integrate with the active community they have.” He says, Cycle Culture’s logo and tagline “Push Play Outside” are based on the play button seen on smartphones and tablets. It’s easy to push and play on these devices indoors but Cycle Culture is passionate about encouraging people from kids all the way through to adults to push their pedals and play outside instead.
When you’re ready to play outside on your bicycle be sure to get started by visiting Cycle Culture first.
Cycle Culture, 12218 Tecumseh Rd E
(519) 735-0404
http://www.cycle-culture-shop.com
Just Cork It
Indulge in Personal Winemaking
Wine lovers have been discovering the joy of easy do-it-yourself quality winemaking thanks to the passionate people at Just Cork It, a leading retailer in personal winemaking. They stand out by giving you the opportunity to access only the highest quality trusted brands of wine kits in clean, modern stores you can feel good about crafting in.
Just Cork It owner Nancy McCabe at her personal winemaking service shop in Tecumseh, ON. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Just Cork It supplies wine kits to their customers in partnership with Andrew Peller Ltd., famed for carrying on the enduring tradition of Niagara on the Lake winemaking. This partnership connects you directly to the innovations and technology required to produce exceptional wines.
Just Cork It supports you step by step in crafting a superb wine with ease. They’ll help you make the best choice of wine based on your flavour preferences, or the brand and varietal you drink now. Together you’ll mix the ingredients and add yeast to begin the fermentation process. Just Cork It takes care of racking, stabilizing, clarifying and filtering your wine. A few weeks later you’ll return to bottle your wine and “Just Cork It!”
All that’s left to do is enjoy the satisfaction of indulging in your very own homemade wine that you will be proud to share with family and friends.
Just Cork It, 13300 Tecumseh Rd. E. #270
(519) 979-1393
https://www.justcorkit.com
Karma Wine & Whisky Lounge
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
A beautiful new outdoor mural on the east wall of Karma Wine & Whisky Lounge captures the fun speakeasy essence of this lowkey neighbourhood hotspot. Located on the outskirts of town on Riverside Dr. E., owner Michelle Tremblay wanted to create a little quaint boutique, “sort of Cheers or Friends type feel”, which is exactly what she’s done. As word spreads about this intimate lounge, it won’t be one of Tecumseh’s best kept secrets much longer.
Karma Wine & Whisky Lounge owner Michelle Tremblay (left) with celebrity bartender, local media personality, Greg Gynp, behind the bar at Karma in Tecumseh, ON. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Quite simply, the 30 seat venue is a bar, not a restaurant, where people come to hang out and have a few drinks. Charcuterie cheese and meat boards and “snackitizers” as they are known at the bar, including popcorn and bar-mix are available to nibble on while sipping wine and craft cocktails. Plans are in the works to occasionally host pop up nights where local restaurants will come in and serve food. In addition, Karma periodically holds whisky tasting events hosted by Beam Suntory’s leading spirit ambassadors. Karma can also be booked for private parties.
In August, local media personality Greg Gynp was brought in as a celebrity bartender for opening weekend after the bar had been closed for months due to the pandemic. It’s become a permanent gig. Passionate about whisky he’s stocked the bar with a premium selection of whisky. Gynp and Tremblay have concocted some wonderful whisky craft cocktails for people to enjoy. They’ve also collaborated on a weekly specially themed night called Throwback Thirsty Thursdays, a tribute to Gynp’s radio days when he hosted the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Retro Lunch and Time Warp shows. The evening features music and popular bar drinks from that era. Think Fuzzy Navels, Sex On The Beach and Cherry Whisky and Coke! Cheers to the downtown bar flies of the 1990’s!
For the most unique beverage around Karma have fashioned a must try Wine & Whisky Sour complete with red wine floating on top. Might sound repulsive but as Gynp says, “ it’s actually a pretty delicious drink, people are ordering a lot of them.”
Open Thursday to Saturday, in the fall, they open on Sunday with football game watch parties paired with delicious Caesars. Friday and Saturday feature local musicians performing live.
Couches and comfy chairs have patrons telling Tremblay they feel like they’re guests in her living room. She calls Karma her “living room bar,” and you’re invited!
Karma Wine & Whisky Lounge, 12205 Riverside Dr. E.
(226) 348-8185
http://enjoykarma.ca
SBLV Eye Care
See Good, Look Good
When life gets blurry see Dr. Siblani and his team at SBLV Eye Care. This unique patient oriented vision care boutique focuses on providing exceptional eyewear, eye care and style.
Dr. Ali Siblani O.D.at his vision care centre, SBLV Eye Care in Tecumseh, ON. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Upon graduating from Optometry School in sunny Florida, Dr. Siblani returned to practice in his hometown of Tecumseh, ON. Noticing a need for properly made eyewear, he researched the best ways to improve upon the current eye care model. The result is SBLV Eye Care, dedicated to delivering quality eye care solutions customized to each individual patients’ needs.
SBLV’s quality service begins with your comprehensive eye exam. This includes a full eye health check and harnessing the latest refracting technology giving you ultra accurate optical prescriptions. They’re dedicated to delivering custom designed lenses that work best with your frame choice. You’ll have the opportunity to choose from Dr. Siblani’s hand picked selection of not only trending designs but, more importantly, quality frames. SBLV helps guide your choices to ensure your spectacles are optimally crafted.
If you prefer to go glasses free, contact lens fittings and LASIK evaluations are available. SBLV’s specifically selected daily, weekly and monthly contact lenses offer exceptional clarity and comfort.
SBLV Eye Care
Dr. Ali Siblani O.D.
14306 Tecumseh Rd, Tecumseh ON N8N1M1
(519) 979 – 9888
https://sblv.ca
Slinky’s Ice Cream
A Cool Tradition of Treating Your Sweet Tooth
Slinky’s Ice Cream in the Town of Tecumseh has been an iconic stop for families and friends to enjoy cool treats and fun times since opening their doors in 1983. After taking over operations in late 2020, new owners Deb Scarlett and Kim Mailett, worked through the offseason to transform Slinky’s into a re-imagined space that combines West Coast cool with a throwback, retro old school vibe. All of Slinky’s favourites remain in place. Thirty two selections of hard ice cream, soft serve vanilla and chocolate ice cream and the best frozen yogurt treats in Essex County.
Ice cream parlour servers standing behind a vintage-style ice cream cart at Slinky’s Ice Cream in Tecumseh, ON. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
New to Slinky’s this season but with a long cult following in Disneyland is their Dole Soft Serve machine. The cordial confectioners behind the ice cream counter have been whipping up better-for-you, non-dairy, gluten free and certified vegan friendly true-to-fruit fruit flavor treats to everyone’s delight! Also new, Slinky’s is heading off site, their new vintage-style Ice Cream Cart featuring six flavours is making its way to events around town. Periodically, young entrepreneurs are invited to sell their creations during Slinky’s pop ups at their store. Those walking their dogs in the neighborhood or along the Ganatchio Trail are loving Slinky’s Furbaby Fridays. Your canine will receive a free puppy cone between noon and 5:00 pm with the purchase of a regular ice cream cone or bowl.
As Scarlett and Mailett said, “Slinky’s Ice Cream is an iconic family destination. We are honoured to be a part of this legacy and are excited to write the story for the next chapter of Slilnky’s which will be known as The Windsor Essex County frozen treat destination for all our local residents and out of town visitors!”
Slinky’s Ice Cream, 100 Lesperance Rd.
(519) 735-1717
https://www.facebook.com/slinkysicecream
Town of Tecumseh Business Improvement Area logo.
Eyes On Tecumseh Business Spotlight Sponsored by the Tecumseh BIA
Let’s get out and show Tecumseh some love! If you visit any of these establishments thanks to this business spotllight, feel free to tag @eyesonwindsor and hashtag #TecumsehBIA and #EyesOnTecumseh!
This installment of our recurring Tecumseh Business Spotlight, “Eyes on Tecumseh” has been generously sponsored by the Tecumseh Business Improvement Area (BIA).
Tecumseh BIA, 12122 Tecumseh Rd. E. Unit 2, http://tecumsehbia.com
More Featured Tecumseh Businesses
To see more businesses featured in the Eyes On Tecumseh Business Spotlight Series visit: https://eyesonwindsor.com/category/eyes-on-tecumseh/