Blyth's artisan alley

Blyth is known across the country for its nationally-acclaimed theatre and the award-winning Cowbell Brewing Company, but its creative economy has many active players along the main street. From just south of town on Highway 4 to the north end of the business district, the unsuspecting visitor will find a variety of artisan shops and creative entrepreneurs.

The Old Mill is a unique chalet-inspired building that overlooks the village from a hill about a mile south of town. That uniqueness continues inside through two huge buildings stocked full of the latest in fashion for all ages, including mohair throws and sweaters imported from Scotland and Ireland, world-class clothing, formal wear, footwear, sportswear, activewear and accessories from New York, Paris and Montreal. The Old Mill designs products from their own tanneries such as leather jackets, wool blankets and wool work socks. Their tanneries are famous for creating the washable sheepskin rug (the first in North America). The Old Mill has been drawing visitors from across North America and the world for nearly six decades. What started as a small project for owner Glenyce Snell to sell some of the overstock of her family’s tannery business has burgeoned into her own retail and tanning empire, along with her husband Dick who brought tanning expertise to her company. Now the next generation has joined and expanded the business to the online market. While much of the Old Mill’s stock is available online, it is truly a visit that is the surreal shopping experience. From the beautifully arranged rooms of fashions, wools and leathers to the aroma of sheepskins and tanned hide products permeating throughout the buildings, it is an experience not to be missed. Visit them online at theoldmill.ca. 82790 London Road, Hwy #4 South.

Pick-A-Posie is the latest creative entrepreneur to arrive on the street and is the brainchild of owner Jennifer Triemstra-Johnston, a professional costume designer who fell in love with the village over many years as head of wardrobe and costume designer for the Blyth Festival. What opened up as a pop-up shop in 2017, spent a few years in the downtown core and has now taken up permanent residence in one of the beautiful Victorian brick homes at the edge of the commercial district. She specializes in vintage clothing. 345 Queen St.

Maple & Moose is a vendor co-operative that has been an anchor downtown since 2006 when founder Bev Elliott was encouraged to pursue her idea of an “all-Canadian” store at a Blyth Idea Group meeting. In fact, that dream culminated in three storefronts being renovated and filled helping to maintain a vibrant atmosphere on the main street.

Maple and Moose has between 15 and 20 vendors at any one time carrying goods from across Canada. The focus is on small cottage industries and unique one-of-a-kind items, resulting in a collection that has been carefully curated for quality.

First-time visitors to the store will be impressed by how well the architectural details in the brick walls and refinished wood floors show off the carefully laid out merchandise. There are two storefronts committed to a range of products including Canadian food items, clothing, jewellery, hand-turned wood and art pieces. The store is open from April until Dec. 31 each year. 398 Queen Street.

Lunar Lounge occupies the final storefront in the beautifully restored Pretoria Block. A relative newcomer to the downtown core, Leonie Dolmage is an artiste in the salon, specializing in curly hair, the most difficult of the hair types. 402 Queen Street.

Ellie & Co. is the new kid on the block. Since opening in March 2025, owner Tori Hedge has stocked her consignment shop with affordable, pre-loved clothing for women and children. Her goal when she launched the store was to provide families with a budget-friendly alternative to fast fashion and the shop has become a destination for moms who are pressed for time and money to find great looking clothes for the kids and to keep their outgrown clothes out of the landfill. 404 Queen Street.

John Rutledge, Architect works from his main street office, providing a full-service architect firm that does a wide variety of work including historic and contemporary new design, contextually appropriate renovations and additions, authentic restorations of old buildings and storefronts, feasibility studies and barrier-free accessibility reports, tenders, site review and project administration. Some of his favourite projects have been cottages along Lake Huron. He enjoys the challenge of an extensive renovation where he can balance the modern needs of the clients while respecting the original character of the building. 406 Queen Street.

Sweets n’ Treats is the brainchild of Debbie Busby and is her second location. The original store is just down the road in Wingham. They specialize in chocolate gift baskets, handmade chocolates and truffles, barks and giftware. Her favorite thing is to be challenged! If you have an idea, she is the chocolate artist to bring it to life. We also have novelty and adult chocolates! 413 Queen Street.

Blyth Printing has been a creative fixture in Blyth for three generations. The Whitmores started the company by owning the village newspaper The Blyth Standard, but sold the paper in 1971 to focus on the printing business. They offer a complete service including graphic design and can print signs, banners, vehicle wraps and business forms. Ken Whitmore recently sold the business to long-time employee and designer Steve Dawe who now anchors the company by providing creative solutions to your promotional needs, whether it be posters, signs or letterhead. 411 Queen Street.

North Huron Publishing is home to Stops Along the Way, but also its sister publications The Citizen, a weekly community newspaper serving northern Huron County and The Rural Voice, a monthly agricultural magazine serving Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey and North Wellington counties. Its biggest hidden gem is the bookstore, The Rural Reading Room that focuses on rural themed books and local authors. 405 Queen Street.

Blyth Repository of History is quietly awaiting your curiosity for history. The archival collection contains thousands of documents, neatly organized in binders, that hold the secrets of generations of families, businesses, and organizations. For many years, Brock and Janis Vodden were the unofficial archivists for the village (and area). Several years ago, after Janis passed away suddenly, Brock helped the community form a committee to take over the care of the collection so that genealogists and history buffs could continue to research Blyth’s long history and the families who forged it. 405 Queen Street. (situated inside of North Huron Publishing’s reception area).

Wild Goose Studio Cindy McKenna and her husband Hans Veenvliet moved their Southampton art studio, Wild Goose Studio Canada, to Blyth’s main street and re-imagined the space, inside and out. Veenvliet is a woodworker who crafts everything from furniture to memorial pieces. McKenna is primarily a painter, having dedicated most of her life to the craft. She also teaches art through the studio, running painting workshops for children. Wild Goose Studio has opened two new rental spaces, The Writer’s Loft & Gallery Suite, as creative getaways. 432 Queen Street.

Penny’s of Blyth has quickly become a favourite stop for visitors to the village of Blyth as well as locals since opening her doors on main street in 2022. Owner Penny personally curates every product offered in the store, which is comprised entirely of artisanal Canadian goods, mostly from artisans and makers that are local to the area. Penny’s carries a variety of unique home goods, decor, bath and body products, fresh and frozen gourmet foods, baby supplies, jewelry, accessories, and more.. 439 Queen Street

Wonky Frog Studio is as adorable and as quirky as their name. Owners Cat O’Donnell and Scott Ramsay have been professional artists for over 20 years. They fell in love with Huron County while vacationing here, and when a small house with two studios and a retail space came up for sale, they leapt at the chance to live their “artist life”. Their retail shop space measures out at only 14’ x 12’ but they’ve generously allocated space to many local makers and artisans. You can buy locally-blended teas, hand-cut wood letter openers and birds, soaps, jewellery, even local apothecary products! But the mainstay of their business remains their own creative output. Scott’s paintings are available by commission or you can purchase prints and imprinted merchandise through the store or online. Cat runs the pottery studio and offers classes and workshops.

Cat is also a sound reiki practitioner and an intuitive guide. Once you speak with her for a little while, you’ll get her artistic spirit. Everything in this space is made with intention, and is promoted and shared with that same intent and positive energy. 197 Westmoreland Street, shop entrance on Queen Street.