Earlier this month Claudia Goodfellow announced on her social media that Goodfellows Field to Fork, in Rockwood, would be pivoting to a new location and a new business model at the end of February.
The store opened in 2016 and operated out of the basement of the current location at 155 Main Street South. “The customers who ventured down those stairs to visit our unconventional store front will always hold a special place for me” says Goodfellow.
The original business model had 3 partners. Claudia has continued to shift and adapt through many changes including losing 2 partners in 2019 and then COVID, and its many stages, in 2020. “Entrepreneurship is difficult. This is an opportunity to take a few steps back in order to propel forward. I haven’t reached this decision lightly. I am making these changes in an effort to survive. Not knowing when this pandemic will be over is the biggest challenge.”
(Photo: Claudia Goodfellow, Owner of Goodfellows)
Goodfellows will be rebranding to Claudia’s Fine Foods and moving to operate out of Top Market Family Farms at 960 King Street East in Cambridge. The store will be selling her baked goods and she is looking at additional wholesale opportunities and Farmers Markets. Planned markets for summer 2021 include Rockwood (Wednesdays), Preston (Thursdays), and Aberfoyle (Saturdays).
The bakery isn’t currently operating, but you can arrange to pick up some of the other products she carried in the store, or to buy one of the many beautiful and eclectic pieces of art that adorned the walls, by appointment.
And if you had your eye on the tattooed pig in the shop, you’re in luck! Claudia will be auctioning the pig off and all proceeds will go to the Women in Crisis Center in Guelph.
(Photo: Pig to be auctioned with the artist Kathryn Henley)
Claudia wants to thank her community and her customers. “Rockwood has been a beautiful community to be a part of. The people are so supportive. The stories and memories people shared on my Facebook and Instagram posts were so beautiful.”
Follow her social media @claudiasfinefood on Instagram for auction and business updates.
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