Grand Oak’s Strong Roots

Grand Oak’s family tree proves that home is where the hearth is.

The Grand Oak Culinary Market is not a typical marketplace. Though it may appear so from the street, once you enter through its double doors, passing through the enveloping smell of fresh baked bread and home cooked meals, you’re left with a sense that you’ve come home rather than entered a shop.

Owner Jane Stulp says their family business was inspired by what they stand for: consistency, dependability and building long-term relationships with their patrons. “Our relationship with our customers makes us unique,” says Stulp. “We have so many people that we see almost every day - even if it is just to say hello. We are a family here; we have gotten to build relationships with people and it’s been really nice.”

The family’s deep-rooted passion for incredible customer service and fresh, flavourful and affordable food has helped cement Grand Oak as a permanent fixture in Vineland since it opened nine years ago. Following years of upheaval and changing of ownership, the warm red building and sprawling property was purchased in 2011 by the Stulp family – fulfilling a long-awaited dream. “It took us months and months to clean and get the building ready,” said Stulp. “There was nothing when we stepped in - we didn’t take over a business we just bought a building. We had to start from scratch.” Stulp said they flew by the seat of their pants and though they had a business plan in mind, they allowed the community to dictate what their business would become.

Today, the business has adapted with public demand; evolving to feature a gourmet restaurant, in-house bakery, specialty cheese and charcuterie counter and produce market featuring an assortment of seasonal and locally sourced fruits, vegetables and artisan products. “It was a huge leap of faith,” said Stulp. “We always say, ‘If you don’t dare to jump you will never learn to fly’. That’s really what we went off of. We had to do it, we had to try it.”

This relaxed outlook helped Stulp and her family to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic; adjusting their restaurant and offering meals-to-go – which was an instant hit within the community. These take out dinners feature a full home-cooked Family Style Meal option which feeds 3-4 people for only $44.95 and a Date Night Menu – a higher end meal – for $39 dollars a person.

“People love [the to-go meals],” said Stulp. “For us, it’s about giving back to local people. They are carrying us through, and I think it is only fair that we give back to them.” Stulp said all meals, baked goods and breads are made fresh in house each morning by her husband and executive Chef Jan-Willem Stulp – who has over 20 years of experience and is an active leader in the Niagara culinary scene.

Their bakery also features an assortment of baked goods made in-house daily including specialty breads, cakes, cookies, muffins, scones, pies and more – with flavours changing with seasonal ingredients. The bakery also has an exclusively gluten-free kitchen which caters to celiac diets. Because all recipes are custom-made and baked goods are made in-house, virtually all dietary requests can be accommodated with notice.

For ordering options and evolving store hours, visit grandoakculinary.ca