Aug 27, 2016 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

No matter the time of day, drivers on Highway 3 always slow down when they roll through Greenwood. Copper Street is lined with beautiful heritage buildings that inspire a longer look. One in particular always seems to have a bustle of people at the door: the Copper Eagle Cappuccino & Bakery.

From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, the Copper Eagle attracts travelers and locals alike. The historic storefront, with its red 1955 Chevy parked on the curb, always draw attention. From the sidewalk, the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods is hard to resist.

While the outside of the Copper Eagle has many interesting architectural features, the real sweet stuff is on the inside. Stepping through the old oak door, customers are greeted by co-owner Vanessa Chartier and staff, who keep the front of the house hopping. Through a large glass window in the back you can see the other half of the enterprise — Jo-Anne Marien, chief baker and master of the kitchen.

The Copper Eagle's display cases hold a wide selection of fresh baked goods, from pastries to scones, muffins, sweetballs, pies, cakes and breads. Lunch items are also on the menu, with salads, lasagna and grilled panini sandwiches and a selection of vegetarian and 'gluten-free' options. The cappuccino bar offers gourmet coffee brand, Bean Around the World.

More than just business partners, Jo-Anne Marien and her daughter Vanessa have been running the Copper Eagle as a family business for the last several years. Jo-Anne initially purchased the business from Jim Nathorst and Richard Graham, who sold it when they were opening the Pacific Grill. Jo-Anne had gone to work for them in the bakery. The previous owners were the Copper Eagle's founders, Jeff and Colleen Fraser.

Shortly after Jo-Anne purchased the shop, Vanessa returned to town from a stint on the carnival circuit. The two partnered up and ran the business together until Vanessa took a two-year hiatus and got married to her husband, Dennis. In 2014 she returned to Greenwood, and her spot behind the counter at the Copper Eagle.

Along with having her daughter on board, Jo-Anne has recently welcomed her grandson into the kitchen, where he's taken on some of the quiches, soups and lasagna for the summer. Some days her mother is also in the house, which means there are four generations of the family under the Copper Eagle roof.

Both Jo-Anne and Vanessa give all credit to the Frasers for pioneering the Copper Eagle, and providing a much-needed shot of energy to Greenwood. In fact, they're memorialized on the door sign, which depicts a cup of coffee, an eagle, and the initials 'J&C'. The coffee shop and bakery attracted new customers to Greenwood, and more people began walking around the downtown. Since that time the bakery has become a regular stop for local coffee lovers, and it's on many traveler itineraries.

Last year, Vanessa met a gentleman who said that a relative of his had run a local grocery store in the building. Once a month, when he was a little boy, the ice cream truck would come and there would be a line-up stretching around the block.

Another visitor to Copper Eagle had some detailed information on the history of the building, and shared the following:

"Construction of this building — Guess Block — began during May of 1899, after the assay office built for Guess Bros., Assayers & Chemists a month or so more than three years earlier had been disassembled and rebuilt on a lot along Dundee Street, between Copper and Government Streets.

George Arthur and Harry Adelbert Guess were both graduates of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. George came to the Boundary Creek district during 1894 and opened an assay office in Midway. Harry soon followed.

After the establishment of Greenwood City Townsite by Robert Wood the brothers opened a second office, in Harry's charge until he departed in mid-1898. George closed the Midway office and relocated to Greenwood, although Harry returned after several months' sojourn in northern Canada's Keewatin District.

Among the occupants of Guess Block in the months after its completion were Jacob Lukov's "gent's furnishings and dress goods" at street level, with Lukov's brother-in-law Arthur Fleishmann as a clerk in the store (September), Dr. James Spankie and nurse Marion "Minnie" Manahan (2nd floor, November), Cunningham & Anderson, Electrical Construction and Supplies (basement premises, early 1900) and Forbes M. Kerby, Civil Engineer & Land Surveyor (2nd floor, mid-1900).

Being of brick construction, Guess Block survived two disastrous fires in Greenwood's early history. The first was on August 3, 1899 when an arsonist's fire destroyed the adjacent Windsor Hotel, Pacific Hotel, and Law Offices of Hallett & Shaw. The second fire, on the south side, gutted George F. Williams' clothing store on August 24th, 1902."

Today, brass plaques bearing the building's construction date of 1899 are still intact. And, the building now sports signage that was painted onto the brick walls when Greenwood served as a movie set for Snow Falling on Cedars. Tourists are often seen standing on the sidewalk, photographing the Copper Eagle's façade.

While customers come and go throughout the day, the iconic cherry red Chevy always parked outside has become a Greenwood landmark. It is undoubtedly one of the most photographed attractions in the city. The car has become part of the Copper Eagle's persona, passed down as the business went to new owners, beginning with the Frasers.

In Jo-Anne's words, the '55 Chevy 'goes like a bat out of hell'. She takes it out for a spin now and then, and is happy that neither the speedometer or the gas gauge are working. She likes to be generous with the car, showing it off and answering questions… and saying 'No' to the many offers to buy. Jo-Anne believes the car was meant to be enjoyed, however, and a few lucky customers have even been taken for a ride in it.

Like the Chevy, many of the bakery's recipes have also been passed down from Colleen Fraser. She trained Jo-Anne, who was new to baking at the time. Jo-Anne, who arrived in Greenwood 12 years ago from Saskatoon, was previously employed in the hospitality industry. Making tourists happy was her specialty. She briefly worked at a coffee shop in Saskatoon, doing the lunch hour, and learned how to build a menu and clientele. When hired to work at the Copper Eagle, she realized how much she loved working with people and putting out quality baked goods they loved to eat.

Today, the Copper Eagle has staff both in the kitchen and up front. Heidi Myers has been on board for several years, and takes charge of making the squares and wraps. Jo-Anne continues to specialize in cakes and cheesecakes. She's been known to sneak downstairs from her 2nd floor apartment for a slice of bedtime pie, and when it comes to the scones and butter tarts, she admits to being one of her own best customers. In fact, the Copper Eagle butter tarts are the favourites of many. Quite a number of out of town customers phone in their advance orders. One man from Kelowna claims that his car pulls itself over and parks, insisting he have a butter tart.

Jo-Anne and Vanessa work together like a well oiled machine to keep the Copper Eagle running smoothly. Up with the birds, Jo-Anne arrives early in the morning to begin baking. Vanessa refers to her as the 'starter pistol' in the daily race, and herself as the anchor. Jo-Anne opens, and Vanessa closes the shop each day. Both love serving the Copper Eagle's guests, but it's not all work and no play! In fact, the pair love 'playing with the customers', and many a happy schtick goes down over the course of the work week. Vanessa loves the personal contact with customers, so different from the carnival fairgrounds. At the bakery, people are human beings, not dollar signs. Old friends and new come through the door. Although some come from very far away, people feel welcomed and loved, and that's what brings them back.

Vanessa recalls one older Swiss couple who came into the bakery. The woman left her favourite wool jacket behind, and Vanessa mailed it back to her. The couple was so touched, they sent her a box of Swiss chocolate bars. Then again at Christmas a package arrived from them, with treats and a card they'd made up using photos taken at the Copper Eagle. One was a picture of Vanessa playing the piano. She'd spent only a short time with them in the bakery that day, but they'll remember that moment in time, here in Greenwood.

The Copper Eagle traditionally opens on the first Friday in March, and closes again for the off-season, just after the New Year. Snow season gives the owners a chance to do maintenance on building and equipment, and gives them a much needed break after the hectic 7-day a week schedule.

While much has stayed the same over the years, there are changes afoot for the Copper Eagle. In September, Jo-Anne is going to change her game, moving to Castlegar to start a college program for ESL teachers. She hopes to spend a few years afterwards, traveling and teaching somewhere new in the big world. Vanessa, meanwhile, is committed to carrying on the business at Copper Eagle and will step into a bigger pair of shoes.

Next year is the 20th Anniversary of the Copper Eagle, operating from 1997 to 2017. Festivities can be counted on, as Greenwood celebrates one of its favourite haunts. In the meantime, Vanessa and Jo-Anne are waiting to welcome you. Lunch is on, the coffee's hot, and dessert is just coming out of the oven.

THE COPPER EAGLE
325 Copper Street
Greenwood, BC
(250) 445-6121
Copper Eagle on Facebook