Mel’s Tea Room closed in Feburary 2022, and since then the iconic storefront has stood vacant. That will change in June, when Wild Carnivore pet store sets up shop in the former diner space.

Sarah Honea and Diego Mora are the young couple behind Wild Carnivore. After looking at other spaces to house their business, they settled on Mel’s and plan to move in in May and start preparing the space.

“I definitely think that we can make it work and make it something to be proud of here,” says Honea. Though the couple is relatively new to Sackville, having moved from Ontario about a year ago, they are familiar with the legacy of Mel’s from word of mouth. Honea says she is looking forward to reviving the space and making it usable again. “Right now it’s just sitting, and it’s being wasted,” says Honea. “We do know it was a staple here, but we’re going to be proud to be able to make it something that is usable and that can succeed and be successful for the town of Sackville.”

CHMA sat down with Honea and Mora across the street from their soon-to-be new space, in bustling Ada’s Cafe one afternoon last week:

Both Honea and Mora are animal lovers (they have four dogs and a bunny) but Honea specializes in canine nutrition, and hopes to use that expertise to make Wild Carnivore the go-to spot for pets in town. “My passion is pet food and my specialty is raw,” says Honea. “That’s where I’ve done most of my education and most of my experience is from.”

Mora says that expertise will set Wild Carnivore apart from big box stores and chains. “I’ve always loved to teach and help and guide people on proper feeding of their animals,” says Honea.

The shop will also feature food and supplies for other pets. Honea is even entertaining carrying horse feed, if people request it. She also says she hopes to carry as many local products as possible. She knows there are some local companies producing food, and she’s hoping to recruit others making dog products like bandanas, leashes, collars, etc.

“We want to make sure that we’re supporting local,” says Honea. “Any or anyone who makes local things that we support them, and that we can also advertise for them and just be a local pet store that has local people.”