Left to right, performer, David J. Russell; Ashanti franchise owner, David Wilding-Davies’ daughter, Kate; Bethany Warder, Port Elgin Ashanti owner; Saugeen Shores Mayor, Mike Smith; Ashanti customers from the Port Elgin area, Jean Berner and Dayle MacCharles; Port Elgin Ashanti owner, Jamieson Lamb; Port Elgin Ashanti summer staff, Kevin McCauley; Peak Locations Realty Broker of Record, Brian Wessel.

Hub Staff

Ashanti Port Elgin held their grand opening on Saturday, July 23, where they served $2 lattes, free medium coffees as well as $2 half pints of their new Nitro Cold Brew.

Franchise owner, David Wilding-Davies said the Port Elgin location is his fifth Ashanti franchise. “We started off as (coffee) farmers in Zimbabwe,” said Wilding Davies. That was in 1998. Then they opened their first Ashanti cafe in Thornbury, then Collingwood, Elora and Hanover locations followed; then finally Port Elgin.

Jamieson Lamb, along with his partner Bethany Warder, opened the Goderich Street location June 1 of this year.

See: From farm to cup

“Jamieson actually roasted coffee for us at our plant in Thornbury,” said Wilding-Davies. “I realized this is someone who is really passionate about coffee, great personality, above average intelligence, (then he) introduced me to Beth, she’s got the same qualities.”

Wilding-Davies said he had been considering a Port Elgin location and when he mentioned it to Lamb, “he was all over the idea.”

The event saw David J. Russell from David J. Russell and The Rockafellers performing on acoustic guitar, prize draws throughout the day and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

“Let today signify a great future for us here at Ashanti and hopefully we can be great contributors to the Town of Port Elgin,” said Lamb.

Kevin McCauley poured Ashanti customer, Cory Gallagher a Nitro Cold Brew at the July 23 grand opening. Left to right, Cory Gallagher, customer; Huw Llewellyn, customer; franchise owner, David Wilding-Davies, Port Elgin Ashanti summer staff, Kevin McCauley.

David J. Russell has performed at every Ashanti grand opening since the first one opened in Thornbury a decade ago. Russell called the Port Elgin location “a stand out,” saying it has a “really nice, warm feel about it.”

Ashanti owners were handing out merchandise at their grand opening July 23.