Emerging Entrepreneurs: Celebrating the Liminal Place Cafe Inc.

Every October, Small Business Week occurs across Canada, with the intention of celebrating the success of small businesses, recognizing their hard work and persistence, and creating opportunities for small business owners to connect, learn, and reflect. In Grande Prairie, the Chamber of Commerce hosts three primary Small Business Week events annually, where they proudly present local entrepreneurs with their Business Awards of Distinction. 

This year, we are pleased to report that three of the winning businesses were Members from downtown Grande Prairie! Please join us in congratulating The Liminal Place Cafe Inc. (Best New Business Award), The Work Place (Legacy Business Award), and Peak Beauty Academy (Small Business of the Year, 15+ employees).

The Liminal Place Cafe Inc. opened in 2025, and after a year in business, decided to move homes to the Blue Building Project in downtown Grande Prairie. They offer exceptional quality coffee, great food, and a cozy place to connect. Catch our interview with owners Davin and Candice below!

 

 

Congratulations on your win of the Best New Business Award! What does winning an award like this mean to you and your team?

Honestly, it means a lot. There has been so much energy that has gone into getting The Liminal Place to where it is today. From building our first location, learning to run a business, to making the move downtown, there have been plenty of long days, challenges, and learning curves along the way. It’s really encouraging to see that people are noticing what we’re trying to build.

We also wouldn’t be where we are without our team. They’re the ones greeting people, remembering names, making great coffee, and creating the kind of atmosphere we want people to experience. We want people to feel like they’re coming into a place where they’re known, not just another business where they’re making a purchase. So this award is something we share with our whole team and everyone who has supported us along the way.

 

What makes the Grande Prairie (and more specifically, the Downtown GP) business community so great to be a part of?

One of the things we’ve really enjoyed about being in Grande Prairie is how many people genuinely want to see local businesses succeed. Since opening, we’ve had so many conversations, connections, and opportunities that have come simply from being part of the local business community.

Since moving downtown, we’ve really enjoyed getting to know the other business owners in the downtown core and building those relationships. It’s fun seeing local owners become regular guests at our coffee shop. There’s something special about being surrounded by people who are all working toward making the same area a better place. We love seeing businesses support one another, collaborate, and find ways to bring people downtown. We really do believe that when one local business does well, it helps create opportunities for everyone.

 

Why did you choose downtown as the home for your business? Or in your case, why did you choose to move into the Blue Building project?

Our decision to move downtown was pretty intentional. From the beginning, we never really wanted to build a coffee shop that was just somewhere people stopped to grab a drink on their way somewhere else. We wanted to create what people often call a “third space” (a liminal place) somewhere outside of home and work where people could come, slow down, meet a friend, get some work done, read a book, or just enjoy being somewhere.

When the opportunity with the Blue Building came along, we felt it aligned really well with that vision. We loved the idea of being part of the revitalization of downtown and having a space that could contribute to the energy of the area. Being so close to Muskoseepi Park was another big draw. There’s already so much activity and community happening around that space, and we wanted to be part of it. It felt like an opportunity to grow The Liminal Place while also being part of something bigger happening in Grande Prairie. We’re also really looking forward to being involved in the events and collaborations happening downtown. One of the great things about the Blue Building project is having other local businesses like Grain Bin Brewing and Chef D with Comfort and Chaos right here alongside us. We’ve enjoyed getting to know them and are excited about the opportunities to work together and be part of what we’re collectively bringing to the community. In fact, tomorrow for Remembrance Day, we get to be part of the Remembrance Day brunch, which is a great example of the kinds of community experiences we’re excited to be involved in.

 

Downtowns are often hubs of creativity and culture in their communities – how does creativity play into your business’ success?

Creativity is a big part of why we enjoy what we do. Coffee itself is such an interesting industry, and there’s always something new to learn, experiment with, or share with people. We love playing around with seasonal drinks, exploring different coffee beans and brewing methods, and finding ways to introduce people to specialty coffee without making it feel intimidating or complicated.

But creativity also comes into how we use our space and how we interact with the community. We enjoy being part of unique local events, collaborating with other businesses, and finding ways to do things a little differently. We don’t want to just open our doors, serve coffee, and go home. We want to be involved in what’s happening around us and contribute to the culture that’s being built downtown.

 

Is there anything new and exciting on the horizon for your business?

We actually have quite a few things we’re excited about! We’re getting more involved in trade shows and events, and we just got a new portable espresso machine and cart. This is something we’re really looking forward to because it allows us to take The Liminal Place outside of our building and bring our coffee to different events and gatherings around Grande Prairie.

We’re also working toward offering coffee education experiences. Specialty coffee is something we’re really passionate about, and we’d love to share more of that with people. Whether it’s learning about different beans, brewing methods, or simply understanding what makes a really good cup of coffee, we want to make specialty coffee more approachable and give people an opportunity to experience it in a new way.

Beyond that, we’re just excited to keep growing, meeting people, trying new things, and seeing where The Liminal Place goes. We have lots of ideas, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead!

 

Congratulations again to the team at The Liminal Place for their well-deserved win of Best New Business! The space they’ve created is welcoming, and their coffee is truly excellent! 

For more information on the cafe and to plan your visit, check out their website: https://www.liminalplace.ca/