A Nova Scotia entrepreneur is set to open the doors of her first physical storefront this weekend, six years after the COVID-19 pandemic derailed her original plans to launch a shop.
Paula Steenken will hold the grand opening of Acadian Teashop and Gift Boutique on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 9323 Commercial Street in New Minas, Nova Scotia. The event is open to the public, with visitors invited to browse the shop’s selection of tea, gifts and local goods and meet Steenken in person.
From Lockdown Setback to Online Growth
Steenken had been preparing to sign a commercial lease for a physical shop just one week before pandemic lockdowns began in 2020. With those plans no longer viable, she shifted course, launching Acadian Teas online and selling her products at local markets instead of through a storefront.
Over the following years, the business grew through online orders and market appearances, and Steenken built relationships with customers along the way. Her products are now carried in stores across Nova Scotia, and her retail network has expanded into other parts of Canada.
A Permanent Home for the Business
The opening of Acadian Teashop and Gift Boutique represents a return to Steenken’s original vision of running a physical location where customers can shop in person year-round. The new space brings together tea, gifts and local goods under one roof, giving customers who first found the business online or at a market table a permanent place to visit.
Organizers describe the grand opening as both a celebration of the new shop and a recognition of the persistence behind a business that continued operating through years of disruption before reaching this milestone. More information about the shop is available through its website, AcadianTeas.ca.
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