If you want your local shop owner to know your name the second time you walk in the door, and also know the name of the person who made the products you’re browsing, the Trainyard General Store is for you. The shop opened its doors in 2016 as part of an influx of new residents and new independent businesses in Dartmouth’s downtown.
Featuring both a retail storefront and adjacent makerspace that hosts workshops and community events, owners Jason and Kimberley aim to offer both the practicality and sense of community of the traditional country store. With products by over 100 Nova Scotians, building connections in the local maker community is also part of the shop’s bottom line. But the social mandate of the store doesn’t end there. The two plan to soon launch Trainyard Connect, a platform to raise awareness of the work of local non-profits, and will be donating a portion of the shop’s profits to support these local causes.