It's all inthe family for the owner of Harleys Pub and Perk.  Nicole Wise's Great Uncle Harley would be proud.  About 10 years ago, Nicole (Nikk, after you meet her once!) bought the Coffee Perk coffee shop in Mildmay.

 

Nikk had not been inthe restaurant business -- her career was as a nurse, an RN at a Kitchener Hospital.  But then she was laid off and returned to her home community of Mildmay, convinced it was time to find herself a new career.  She had worked at the Coffee Perk as a high school student and when the business came up for sale, she decided she had found her new calling.

 

She says that "she loved it" and when the opportunity came to return to nursing, she instead stuck with her famous butter tarts and coffee business.

 

The Coffee Perk was located right next to the local pub, then known as the Cornerstone built in 1872.   In 2003, the bar and the building housing it came up for sale.  Nicole saw an opportunity both for a potential business success but also for a heritage project.  As added incentive for Nikk, the Cornerstone Pub was owned and operated for many decades by her ancestors, the Schmalz family.  It was destiny!  With many restorations including decorating, a computertized billing system, an inviting fireplace and 100-inch TV for those sports enthusiastics, Harley's doesn't lack in ambience.

 

Today Nikk is CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of the now combined Harleys Pub and Perk - named after Great-Uncle Harley.  The Perk seats 25 and the Pub 110.  With the population of Mildmay at 1,000 it is definitely the Meet and Greet place in Town!

 

Nicole is the driving force of the business which is always embarking on new ventures with the latest being Catering.  Nikk loves to create edible delights.  Consequently, Harleys is not your usual Pub fare.  You've GOT TO TRY IT!