If you’re a fan of the 50s and 60s and want to fully immerse yourself in that vintage world while enjoying your morning coffee or tea, then The Bag Lady is the perfect place for you. Located at 474 Pall Mall St., The Bag Lady is a retro cafe run by Jane Beattie, who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for homemade food.

Beattie has run The Bag Lady for the past ten years, and in that time, it’s evolved from a brown bag lunch delivery service to a cozy neighbourhood cafe located just a five-minute walk east of Richmond. This cafe fosters a homey feeling with its small staff, loyal customers, and hearty home-cooked meals.

“I started out making brown bag lunches. Every lunch was in a bag, which is how we got the name The Bag Lady,” Beattie reminisced. “I love everything vintage, so I had a lot of stuff. Then, I started collecting more vintage things. Anything that I thought I liked, I would buy. That’s how it came to be, and we have all of the items here now.”

The journey of The Bag Lady began with Beattie’s passion for cooking and her desire to create a welcoming space for people to enjoy homemade meals.

“Before that, I was a private chef for a family. And that’s how I realized I wanted to be in the restaurant business. I enjoy being in the kitchen,” Beattie said. “We aim to offer a nice, comfortable place for people to sit and enjoy a home-cooked meal with their friends or family. We strive to serve everything very fresh.'

With a menu boasting signature dishes like Bag Daddy’s Big Stack (a savoury breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, spinach, swiss cheese, honey ham, maple bacon, tomato, and avocado topped with fresh hollandaise), and The Mojo (cinnamon French toast with crunchy peanut butter, bananas, and honey), The Bag Lady delights customers with unique flavours and hearty portions.

“Our menu is different than anywhere else that I’ve been. We have a few items that are our signature dishes that people come to, and we’ve had the same menu since we opened,” Beattie explained. “We have people who return for specific items on the menu that they like and keep returning.”

But it’s not just the food at The Bag Lady that keeps patrons returning, it’s the experience. The cozy interior, adorned with vintage décor and memorabilia, creates a welcoming atmosphere that resonates with patrons of all ages.

“When people come in, there’s lots to look at, so they like it. It’s a very welcoming, friendly place. It’s cheerful. It has a nice vibe that speaks to everybody when they come in,” Beattie said. “Most people can recognize something they’ve seen at their grandparents’ house or somewhere else, making them feel comfortable from the past.”

Despite the challenges of staffing and operational constraints, The Bag Lady has weathered storms, including the COVID-19 pandemic and zoning issues.

“We survived COVID testing, which is a big thing. And we had some issues with our zoning, that sort of thing,” Beattie acknowledged. “My proudest thing is that our incredible regular customer base keeps returning because they enjoy their time here and the food.”

Looking ahead, Beattie is focused on maintaining the high standards that have made The Bag Lady a beloved fixture in the community.

“We’re just happy to continue as we are. Everything is going very well, so we want to keep it going, serve customers, and do what we do,” Beattie said. “It’s sort of the plan always to strive to be better. But if we can maintain the level of business and our customers, we'll be very happy.”

Beattie also offered some advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

“I would follow your passion if it’s yours. It’s a tricky business. It’s a labour of love. And you have to be willing to work very hard. But if it’s your passion and you believe in it, then I say, go for it,” Beattie said.

As The Bag Lady continues serving delicious meals and cherished memories, it remains a testament to the power of dedication, community support, and the enduring appeal of homemade goodness.