Edible insect promoter.
Professional travel companion.
Laura-Lea Guitard has had some interesting professions, and in two weeks, the creative Thorold entrepreneur will launch her latest—downtown tour guide.
Soon to become an independent travel agent, Guitard is the former owner of The Bug Buggy—which had a “mini storefront” on Eastchester Ave., as well as a booth at the St. Catharines market for two years—where she’s been attempting to convince people to taste-test crickets.
“Chefs are cooking with it (insects) in the big cities and right now it’s an education branding process,” she said, adding, “I promise you some day I will have a Bug Buggy store here.”
In the meantime, her new venture, Niagara Shop and Dine - Historic Thorold, is being billed as an “Airbnb experience,” and will feature tours led by the 10-year Thorold resident along “Niagara’s best-kept secret shopping destination.”
Guitard also hopes to entice locals from across Niagara, as well as Thoroldites who’ve never seen it to “Come discover their downtown.”
“It’s a beautiful downtown and has great one-of-a-kind stores,” she said, 18 of which will be participating in her $50 tour package.
Starting May 1, year-round from Tuesday through Saturday, people who buy the package will be able to find Laura-Lea at the Book Depot parking lot, waving her pink flags at 11:30 a.m. There, she’ll provide a brief overview of the Welland Canal and development of Front Street through the years.
Individuals or groups will be “Free to follow me, or go off on their own. I will be pointing out the amazing architecture of previous businesses and stores, adding some spice to the historical side of it.”
Two hours will be dedicated to shopping, with some stores adding exclusive offers and treats to the “goodie bags” she hands out.
If she receives approval from Health Canada, she hopes to toss six-packs of deluxe eyeshadow—made from crickets—into the goodie bags.
At noon, three participating restaurants will offer special lunch deals for tour-takers: Pho 18, Biscotti Café, and Thorold Fish and Chips.
At Pho 18, Jenny Tran said she “invites people to experience traditional and fusion Vietnamese cuisine,” along with homemade desserts.
Her tour lunch special consists of an appetizer, main course, and non-alcoholic beverage, included in the tour price.
“They can come back for dinner and get 10 per cent off,” she told ThoroldNews, adding that the traditional and fusion dishes—prepared fresh daily by her chef husband, Andy—provide an opportunity for people in Niagara to sample culture, in the form of “a blend of the old and new.”
After a 45-minute lunch, tour-takers are provided with an hour of free time to stroll along Front Street, seeking treasures at the stores, which offer “everything from antiques to vintage clothing, unique stationery luscious bath bombs, and flowers,” Guitard stated.
At the end of the tour, “We meet at Biscotti’s for a social dessert reception and tell each other what we’ve seen.”
She’ll advise shoppers to “Stick around; we have a lot more to offer,” including delicious dinner cuisine at Donnellys Pub and Karma Kameleon Gastropub.
She’ll also help boost the BIA by promoting and incorporating their events in her tours, such as the annual Car Show and Halloween Puppy Parade.
Diana D’Intino, BIA marketing chair, told ThoroldNews, “Laura-Lea's new venture, Niagara Shop and Dine - Historic Thorold, looks like it's going to be wonderful. From what I've heard, it sounds like a great way to spend the day in downtown Thorold. You've heard of the 'slow movement,' which advocates a cultural shift towards slowing down life's pace; well, I think this might be 'slow shopping;' where the cultural experience will be as delightful as the shopping. The response from fellow downtown merchants has been very positive,” said D’Intino, “and I join them in wishing Laura-Lea much success.”
The deadline to reserve a tour package is two hours before each daily tour starts at 11:30 a.m.
To book a tour, visit airbnb.com/experiences/669794.
