STOUGHTON - Stoughton has not had a laundromat for several years, but that is about to change.
Ira Noyes already owns Blondie’s Car Wash in Stoughton, and now Noyes and her mom Valerie Creighton purchased the building next to the car wash.
Creighton owns and operates the Red Horse Ranch near Stoughton. She is known in the area for receiving the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2016, the Order of Canada in 2019 and more.
During the 1970s and ‘80s, Creighton owned and operated the Plant Factory in Stoughton.
Noyes was born in Stoughton and loves the Prairies. After a leave from the area, she returned to her roots and is now the president of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce and is involved in the Saskatchewan Foundation of Arts.
The mother-daughter team have gone to great lengths to refurbish as many pieces of the old building as possible, to keep the history in the establishment.
Upon entering the front door, a large window adorns strands of wheat from a local farmer. This window is changeable with the season.
Straight ahead is the laundromat. One of the old dryer fronts was refurbished, is mounted on the wall, and used for laundry drop off. It’s one of the services they will be providing.
On the wall in the laundromat is the 1950’s sign, cleaned up and painted. A long folding counter is across from the seven washers and dryers.
All the machines have been serviced with new drums, the fronts have been stripped and painted, while keeping the old drums for tables in the coffee shop.
To the right of the laundromat is the Prairie Pantry Coffee Shop. It has its own entrance, but also an opening from the laundromat for customers to get a coffee at a self-serve counter.
The old floors have been stripped and refinished, with the extra lumber used to accent the walls and counters. The washer drums were painted and a glass top is used as a table. Behind the counter is a wall full of homemade preserves.
Noyes wants to foster an awareness around the healing powers of food and is creating a line of teas, soups, and recipes to support the immune system.
“I am not a doctor, but there are foods that will help,” said Noyes.
Her menu will consist of fresh juices, smoothies and small snacks sourced from local farmers and retailers. They want to promote healthy options to help people feel better.
Prairie Pantry will also have specialty coffees with baked goods from Goodwill Bakery in Stoughton, along with breakfast sandwiches. Noyes said they have no intentions to focus on local retail sales, as she feels Stoughton already has great retail.
The coffee shop’s name is based on a line of products that Noyes is developing, rooted in health and wellness, which are plant-based and sourced from her garden.
Shantelle Russell is the managing partner. She will provide customer service through her many years in retail. Russell has lived in Stoughton for many years and has family roots there.
It is their hope to have a place where friends gather, in a place where values will be respected, while offering exceptional service and products. They hope to be open near the end of January.
