We’ve been in Grimsby for generations, and have enjoyed watching the town evolve over the years, adding culinary and cultural attractions while keeping its small town spirit. If you’re planning a trip to Niagara, we recommend adding these to your list of things to do. And if you live in this great town, leave us a comment to let us know the people and places you’d recommend we profile!
Station One Coffee House
28 Main St. E. Grimsby
Station One brews up great taste with good conscience. The focus of this independent café is on local, fresh, organic and fair trade, with food sourced from farmers’ markets, locally roasted coffee and Niagara-based wine, craft beer and spirits. The lovingly repurposed old firehall is also home to live music and trivia nights. Great ambience for small and large groups!
Tip: Pick up a perks card and you’re supporting a local charity
Open: Daily
Website: www.stationonecoffeehouse.ca
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
18 Carnegie Lane, Grimsby
We love the GPAG for making us think with our eyes. The gallery brings challenging, beautiful exhibitions to town and hosts classes, lectures and other events—big-time contemporary Canadian art with small town access. We also love Wayzgoose, the gallery’s annual celebration of the book arts, including letterpress printing, paper making and hand binding, held the last Saturday in April.
Tip: Every show has a public opening
Open: Seven days a week (except stat holidays)
Website: www.grimsby.ca/Art-Gallery/Main
Vintage Vogue
41b Main Street W, Grimsby (rear unit)
This Grimsby store’s focus is on antique, vintage and farm-chic items for your home. The original location was in Smithville, which is where we visited it first, marvelling at room after room of cool décor repainted, repurposed and reloved. Owner Cindy Kyle’s inventory includes architectural salvage, collectibles, lighting, mirrors and get ‘em before they’re gone one-of-a-kind pieces. You can also pick up a pot of Canadian-made mineral and clay-based paint for your own project.
Tip: Entrance is from the rear public parking lot, not Main St.
Open: Tuesday to Saturday
Website: www.vintagestylemercantile.ca
Forty Creek Distillery
297 South Service Rd. W, Grimsby
Niagara’s reputation is for world class wines, but Grimsby drinkers can put something a little stronger in their glass thanks to John Hall’s distillery, which opened in 1992. Whether you’re a whiskey drinker or not, a trip to Forty Creek will be entertaining and educational, and the public tours are free. The BBQ sauce—which is only available at the distillery—gets rave reviews!
Tip: Tasting bar closes 30 minutes before the store closes
Open: Seven days a week
Website: www.fortycreekwhisky.com
Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
28 Quarry Rd, Grimsby
We love Beamer for two things: the annual hawk watch every spring and the view. Operated by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Beamer has a 10 km trail, upper and lower falls, lookouts over the 40 Mile Creek Valley with stunning views of Lake Ontario, and birds of prey. Every Good Friday since 1990 the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has hosted an open house at Beamer where you can get up close and personal with live birds.
Tip: Bring binoculars
Open: Year-round
Websites: https://npca.ca/conservation-areas/beamer-memorial & www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org
Phelps Homes isn’t only a local builder, we’re a local booster. We’re proud to be building our Legacy on Central community in Grimsby and hope that by showcasing our favourite haunts, watering holes, and personalities we give you a little taste of why Grimsby is a great place to visit—and put down roots.
