When life gives you lemons, you open the Lemonade General Store & Co.

Sarah Arsenault spent the last 15 years travelling as part of the flight crew with WestJet. Now she is embarking on opening a shop in the Hydrostone Market in north-end Halifax.

“The Lemonade General Store aims to be like the merchant stores of old:curated, quality, thoughtful items, a place where you can go to get all the things you need:a bow tie, a bracelet or an Erbe Solingen manicure set,” Arsenault said.

“Locally crafted cheese boards, a porcelain shaving bowl, apothecary creams, books to engage and entertain, Saxx snooze pants and hand-knit wool socks.”

She said the store is something she’s dreamed of doing for years “to bring my pleasures from around the globe back home, and COVID was the motivator to finally make it happen.“
Of course, with the pandemic and reduction in air travel, Arsenault found herself temporarily grounded.

“Our life has been so fastpaced. I’ve been throwing stuff in a bag and dashing to the airport for years. This was the moment I needed to make the change to living differently, to shift to building something and putting something back into my community.”

Arsenault is the owner but said it’s a family affair, with her husband and children as part of the team.
She said the store is not about purchasing things to fill space .

“but rather being mindful of what can be used, what will last, and bring satisfaction and pleasure each time you use it.”

They will have things from places she has travelled and wants to share with her home community: Italian wool haberdashery, British cheeses, antiques, locally-sourced items like charcuterie and bitters

“I’ve sought out fabulous makers from across Canada and a few select internationally, but I’m certainly excited to hear from new ones. I’m particularly eager to showcase the work of BIPOC makers.”

Arsenault said she has always wanted to make ice cream, so they will have a small-batch artisanal offering.

“I want this store to be a place where you can run down the street in your PJs to get a container and take home a little bit of happiness.”

As for her location, she said she has a love for things and places that are older and that have a story.

“I love the idea of the Hydrostone and the community effort to rebuild that took place there.“

It’s a sentiment she shares about antiques, “things that were made by hand by some-one that have lasted decades, that one time had a purpose and now have a story.”

Regarding the name, Arsenault said, “a lemonade stand is a delicious, serendipitous point of sustenance and connection with a community.

When I was a kid, I set up lemonade stands as a way to sell something I made by hand and raise money to be able to give to people I cared about. That’s everything I want to do with this store.”

Arsenault and her family open the store November 1 at 5525 Young St. It will be easy to find, with a mechanical pony in the window