Motherlode Icecream Bistro & Galleria in Greenwood offers an eclectic assortment of collectables, and the shop’s owners, Dave Edmondson and Adele LaRiviere, provide an extensive assortment of stories to go with them.
Dave has been buying and selling collectables for 35 years, with 17 years experience selling on eBay. He even wrote a book—Cashing in on Collectibles. “The last chapter says that if you do this long enough eventually you are going to go into retail, so I kind of followed my own advice,” he said.
The galleria offers works of art, some by well-known painters and some very good pieces by those waiting to be discovered. From kitchie to colourful, the galleria offers a variety for people to choose from.
One wall is dedicated to Harley Davidson T-shirts, and another to limited edition prints. They take consignments too, such as the antique (circa 1880) child’s sleigh and baby buggy.
Film memorabilia includes crew jackets from various movies and TV shows, autographed items—even Elvis— and classic rock and roll T-shirts.
Still in the entertainment section but dating from before film and television is a display of vintage circus posters.
There are many antique books. “A lot of first edition and many signed,” Dave said. The books range in price from a dollar to $125 for a 1908 first Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. That’s right— Wizard in Oz—because that’s the title the story had when it was first published.
Adele does tea leaf readings and to help introduce it to the community she is offering special pricing for the Christmas season of $20 for a reading. Also on display, though not for sale, is her personal collection of tarot cards, crystal balls and books.
The ice cream, soups and sandwiches are served in the bistro. Always available are sandwiches and the buck-abowl chilli (on hockey nights) or something equally delicious. They now serve pizza, pies and fresh bread made by Bored Room Bistro too. Gluten-free pizza is available every Wednesday night, and starting this Saturday they are going to be offering tea and scones in the afternoon.
Motherlode Icecream Bistro & Galleria advertises 50 flavours of Island Farms ice cream; and if you need a cookie to go with it, Dave bakes them fresh. How about one of their new specialties, cheesecake ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies? They are soon to be making ice-cream cakes and have purchased a printer that prints edible ink so that photographic images can be reproduced on a cake.
The bistro is the place where you can find Dave whenever the Canucks are televised. “I am a huge hockey fan. I can either be here watching hockey or three steps over there watching the game. So I might as well be here—at least this way I get to talk to some people. Maybe serve them a cup of coffee. Sunday is the only day we close at 6 o’clock,” said Dave, “but if the game doesn’t start until 7, I will stay open until the game is over.”
As a thank you to all who have welcomed them to the community, Dave and Adele are planning a visit from Santa and a 25 per cent off sale this weekend. Everything in the store other than food is marked down this Saturday and Sunday.
Early next year Dave plans to offer a five-part introduction to eBay course. Adele also brings a wealth of talent to the community with her background in graphic design, website development (her most recent contract was for the RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre) and social media.
Still haven’t found a reason to stop by and meet this intriguing couple? Try this little factoid from Adele’s bio: she is the vice-president of the Canadian Butterfly Breeders and Exhibitors Association. She’s what’s known as a butterfly wrangler. She’s raised butterflies since 1998, providing them for movies, weddings, memorials and other special occasions. This summer she will be raising butterflies and planting local flowers that attract others. If people want to learn how to do their own butterfly garden Adele is the person to talk to.
Their hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Closed Monday. Hours will change in the summer, moving to longer hours and seven days a week. You can find them on Facebook— look for Motherlode Icecream Bistro.