Fabhaus cuts ribbon, opens to public in Blyth

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

On Jan. 31, the “soft opening” of a new establishment on Queen Street in Blyth quickly shifted gears, turning from a low-key ribbon cutting into an end-of-month celebration as locals came out in full force to welcome Fabhaus Gallery + Fare to the neighbourhood.
As soon as the doors opened Friday, the charming new art gallery and café began filling up, drawing curious coffee fans, art aficionados and locals eager for a fresh place to gather. Between greeting guests, pulling espresso shots and handing out sweet treats, new owners Noella Upitis and Paula Nicholson barely paused for breath, happily buzzing throughout the afternoon.

 

The storied space, located across the street from the Blyth Centre for the Arts, has long been a magnet for the artistically-inclined. Over the years it has welcomed theatre-goers ducking into the beloved Queen’s Bakery for soup and a sandwich before curtain time, as well as the eclectic crowd that once orbited the Danish-inspired social bread experiment, BRØD. Inside, Fabhaus Gallery + Fare offers a tidy double bill: gallery walls showcasing an ever-rotating selection of well-curated works by up-and-coming artists, alongside a café menu that runs from classic coffees to matcha lattes.

 

The gallery-and-café concept appears to be resonating quickly with local notables - Blyth-based artist Kelly Stevenson and the Blyth Festival’s Nathanya Field and Lisa Hood were just three of the creative mavens spotted in the flock of opening day patrons.
North Huron Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer did the honours with the big scissors, officially welcoming the business to downtown Blyth with a traditional ribbon cutting.

 

White walls may be the gallery standard, but Upitis and Nicholson have embraced an ethos of restrained maximalism in shaping their undeniably chic new space. If Friday was only a soft open, it landed with a hard-to-miss message: this iconic Queen Street storefront is once again ready for the people of Blyth to stop in and stay awhile.