A historic Stonewall teahouse will be getting a new taste of life.
McLeod House will soon open under new ownership after renovations are complete. Beverly Wynne purchased the business with her three daughters: Kerry Lee, Tara Wakeham and Andrea Barylski.
For Barylski, she brings to the business more than 20 years of experience in the food service industry. She worked as a support services manager at Rosewood Lodge and Stonewall Hospital, and she has also operated a catering company for more than a decade. Now the teahouse is her main focus.
“The teahouse has been a special spot for my family since it opened years ago. When my mom and sisters found out it was for sale again, we had to take a look. Once we were all there looking, the ideas of possibility were endless,” said Barylski, who lives near Balmoral while her mom and sisters live in Stonewall.
“My mom’s love for the teahouse is what truly made this dream possible. She loves the teahouse so much that she helped maintain the gardens for the previous owners.”
Not only is the two-storey building well-known for its tearoom, it’s also steeped in local history.
Located at 292 Main St., the wood-framed McLeod House was designed by Brandon architect Walter Shillinglaw and built in 1900 for $2,000, according to the Manitoba Historical Society. Dr. Alexander McLeod and his wife Margaret Lillian Arnett lived in the home with their son Alan Arnett McLeod.
At age 18, Alan McLeod was the youngest of the 90 Canadians to earn the Victoria Cross for his brave actions in the First World War. He received the medal at Buckingham Palace on Sept. 4, 1918. However, he caught influenza while recovering from his wounds and died two months later.
In the house where Alan McLeod grew up, Leanne Stewart from Stony Mountain launched McLeod House Tearoom and Gift Shop, which became a popular destination for its ambiance as well as its soups, sandwiches and desserts. She operated the thriving business from 2003 to 2019, when she sold the business to Jon and Joy Billings. In September 2024, they shut the doors to the restaurant, tearoom and boutique.
With the new owners’ plans to reopen soon, McLeod House is once again a hub of activity.
“We are freshening things up and have had to replace all the hardwood flooring in the main level due to the sprinkler system bursting this past winter. We are hoping that the décor makes this a space that people want to gather at,” Barylski said.
“We have had so many people say how excited they are that we are going back to the original menu. The chicken salad sandwiches are a must. They were a favourite, for sure. There will be a few new menu items too.”
The company’s name will change to Lavender Farms Meals and More, and the décor will be geared to match the name.
The business will feature a gift shop — and the sisters have already been to a fall trade show to see all the new fall and winter products available.
“We can’t wait to share it with everyone,” Barylski said. “We are most excited about seeing people’s reactions when they come in for the first time and being able to provide a unique experience — and great food, of course.”
