For goodness crepe, a unique new café opened in downtown Salmon Arm over the weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, first time business owner Amy Grundmann opened the doors of The Sweet Magnolia, a creperie that met with overwhelming success. 

"I'm so impressed with the Shuswap and support... wow," she said, adding they had a lineup out the door since 8 a.m. "I'm just still, wow, blown away."

Though an admittedly drastic career change from the fishing resort she helped run alongside her parents in Northern Saskatchewan for 25 years prior to moving to Salmon Arm in 2021, this is something Grundmann's always wanted to do. She first embarked on the venture in June, though the choice of crepes being the star of the show goes much further back.

"I've always been in love with crepes... I remember the first time I had one. And I was kind of looking at what Salmon Arm needed, which is a breakfast place91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦," she explained, but added the restaurant goes beyond just breakfast. "You can do so much with a crepe."

As such, she offers both sweet and savoury options to tantalize the tastebuds, and names that will pique interest, including Please Sir, S'more, Limp Brisket and Friends with Benedicts. The creperie also caters to different dietary needs with gluten free and dairy free options, as well as vegan pancakes. 

Though Grundmann said "there's kind of an art to it," of crepe making, one of her kids has already mastered it as well.

"My oldest son, he started making crepes with me," she said. "So he can make a mean crepe, and he can't wait to be the chef behind the scenes."

In addition to her passion for pancakes, The Sweet Magnolia is also a nod to another of her favourite things.

"I just love flowers, and I was trying to think of a floral name and magnolia was the most beautiful sounding, I thought. It kind of flowed," she said. "And then the sweet, for a creperie."

Located at 248 Shuswap Street NE, the café has winter hours of Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Sundays until May 1. More information, including the menu, can be found on The Sweet Magnolia page.