OLIVER’S CLOSES TODAY WITH SOME CUSTOMERS SMILING WHILE OTHERS LAMENT LOSS OF LOCAL JAVA JOINT LANDMARK

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — It was a scary triple-triple day for Oliver’s customers as the doors closed at 6 p.m. Friday.

The last free cuppa coffee came the same day as Halloween and the Blue Jays looked for their first World Series Championship tonight since 1993.

That’s two years after Oliver’s opened in Gravenhurst — first down Hwy. 11 and then downtown.

It was a bit of a festive mood this morning despite the sad day for many customers.

Especially for one group of ladies who’ve made Oliver’s a regular pit stop Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays since it opened. Going in for an hour before work.

Four of them were there twice today.

One more for the road. These happy wanderers didn’t let today’s closing get them down. Left, around the table, Lynne Briden, Karen Ramer, Mary Galbraith, Virginia Snider, Margaret Terry, Cathy Loucks, Judy Hart, Sandra Williams, Carolyn Dixon and Ray Frances. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

As the first pot of coffee was brewed and muffins baked Judy Hart, Karen Ramer, Virginia Snider and Lynne Briden had arrived as usual taking their first sips at 6 a.m.

As they retired they kept up meeting and began walking before returning for a second cup at 9 a.m. Over the years they were joined by others including Mary Galbraith, Margaret Terry, Cathy Loucks, Sandra Williams, Carolyn Dixon and Ray Frances who were all there for their last cup.

They gathered around two long table pushed together. With half them dressed in fun costumes they turned what was a “sad day” into a happy ending as they engaged in their usual good-hearted banter and chit-chat. Laughing and enjoying themselves as always.

“It’ll be hard to replace this,” said Ramer.

“It’s like losing Cheers,” said a disappointed man at the table next to them while his seatmate in the small 40-seat café looked through on old photos of Gravenhurst history.

It’s been the same the sentiments the past couple of days as many paid a final visit to the local java landmark that’s been the small plaza’s anchor business at Muskoka Road and James Street since the early 1990s.

Gravenhurt High School students line up for lunch at Oliver’s Thursday. They say they will miss their “cheapest” coffee and lunches in town.

Yesterday as a dozen GHS students lined up before noon they, too, lamented their nearby quick-stop closing.

Asked what they’re going to do next week, one said: “Gonna cry.”

Sara Gonneau joked with friend Lacey Trott, “I guess we’ll have to bring our lunch next week.

“Really sad,” added another of their school mates who said she’s going to miss the “cheap” coffee.

One teen said he’ll just have to “go to Timmies” down the street.

Jimmy Simcoe, another long-time regular, wasn’t as worried about losing his internet connection.

“I can always go to the library.”

Maurice, who comes down from Bracebridge two or three times a week, said: “I kinda like the little place. You can get a real mug.”

A table was set up with a box of free blue mugs for customers to takeaway a souvenirs.

There’s no firm word yet on what will replace Oliver’s, though the property owner is talking to a Mexican food chain.

See related story about here about changes:

OCT. 31 OLIVER’S CLOSING MAY MAKE WAY FOR RETURN TO RESTAURANT ROOTS FOR MUSKOKA AND JAMES COFFEE ‘LOCAL,’ SAYS 34-YEAR BARISTA ENGLISH https://muskokatoday.com/2025/10/oct-31-olivers-closing-may-make-way-for-return-to-restaurant-roots-for-muskoka-and-james-coffee-local-says-34-year-barista-english/

Sara Gonneau, left, and Tracey Trott say they’ll have to pack their lunches next week.
Jack MacBrien got his wish for a Game 7 in the World Series. Now if only his prediction is right for Saturday night.
Melissa Switzer, who has worked at Oliver’s for a decade, pulls muffins out of the oven Thursday on the second last day.
A smiling Mykcala Suidgeest was kept busy yesterday, making sandwiches and bagels for GHS students on lunch. She’s woked there for six months and going back to her property managent job.
Behind the counter it’s been a busy 30 years or more for the downtown snack bar. But the owners say the business is unsustainable now.
Oliver’s was a comfortable core coffee shop. “It’s like Cheers closing,” lamented one last customer on its final day Oct. 31.
Margaret Terry, left, good-naturedly captures “the good side” of an un-named skeleton today — for posterity.
Open and now closed as of 6 p.m. today, Oliver’s is one more downtown business in Gravenhurst that enters the town’s history books.

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