In honour of Ruby
Seasonal restaurateurs launch new year-round Kensington venture
KENSINGTON, P.E.I. – Nearly five years after opening their first restaurant, the owners of Darnley’s Ship to Shore were eager for something more.
Specifically, Coreen Pickering and her husband, Duncan Smith, had their sights on a new restaurant.
When Bakin' Donuts in nearby Kensington closed last year and the building became available, the couple seized the opportunity to lease the space.
“I’m not sure, really, how this sort of whirlwinded into happening,” said Smith. “It just sort of fell in our lap.”
After months of work, Ruby’s Counter opened on March 5.
“It was kind of an unknown, like any opening day for any operation,” said Pickering. “But it was good. There were some jitters and stuff … but I think it went really well. The staff, in general, just knocked it out of the park.”
GRANDMOTHER'S MEMORY
The new restaurant was named for Pickering’s grandmother, who died before Ship to Shore even opened.
When asked what Ruby would think, Pickering laughed.
“I think she’d think I was crazy,” for dipping into the restaurant industry, she said. “I think she would probably be giving me a hard time.”
Still, she believes her grandmother would be proud of her granddaughter, and honoured to have a business in her memory.
“She was your typical farmer’s wife, where she always had food on the table. Anytime you went to visit there were always sweets presented,” said Pickering. “She was continuously always jumping on to help with community events and volunteering.”
Growing up, Pickering’s family compared her to her grandmother – so taking inspiration from Ruby for her business was a natural evolution.
“We really want to embrace that home feel, the homecooked meals, the sense of community,” said Pickering.
RETURNING EMPLOYEES
While Ship to Shore is only open seasonally, Pickering and Smith wanted their new venture to be year-round, so that they could serve customers and maintain staff throughout winter.
“The biggest thing, in the fall, that we hear from our customers is, ‘I have to wait a year to get brisket again?’” said Pickering. “They really love our brisket, out there.”
On the staff side of things, Pickering was excited to hire previous Ship to Shore staff for Ruby’s Counter, alongside some new faces.
“It’s hard finding employees for just three of four months,” said Smith. “A lot of people don’t want that seasonal, four months (work), they’re wanting the year-round stability.”
ON THE MENU
Although owned and operated by the minds behind Ship to Shore, the couple sees Ruby’s Counter as its own identity. Some popular items from Ship to Shore carried over – like its brisket – but much of its menu is new and unique.
They also have a dine-in menu, as well as a grab-andgo set up for people in a rush, or with short lunch hours, to stop in quickly.
“The way we’re running this has sort of been a vision of ours for quite a while,” said Smith. “Not everybody gets an hour-long lunch break, so we have a quick service counter where we scoop up the lasagna or shepherd’s pie or a meal like that, and they can go back to work.”
Pickering is also preparing to offer drive-thru quick service, which they hope to have up and running later this month.
“Keeping it simple, but kind of trendy at the same time,” said Pickering. “So there’s your classic dishes, but there might be a little bit of spin, with the sauce or whatnot. Like the French toast, we put Nutella in it.”
OPENING DAY
Speaking to Saltwire on opening day, Smith and Pickering couldn’t be happier.
“There’ve been a lot of stressful nights, trying to get this place up and running. One step forward, two steps back, you know?” said Smith. “But it’s good, now.”
Despite some of the stress, Pickering said she’s been taking everything one day at a time. Support from the community has also helped keep her from getting overwhelmed.
“On the social media front, people have been very, very supportive, very excited, saying that it’s a needed place in Kensington,” said Pickering. “There was a group of people who used to hang out here (when it was Bakin’ Donuts) and they felt like they lost their sense of community and their people. So they’re excited to see it open again.”
Ruby’s Counter will be open seven days a week; the kitchen will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. but the restaurant will remain open for grab-and-go meals until 5 p.m.