Kamp Coffee opens in Yellowknife’s Kam Lake

In Kamp Coffee, Yellowknife resident Nadine Ellsworth has turned her long-held dream of running a coffee shop into reality.

Nadine said her husband, Ian Ellsworth, supported her throughout the process. The couple purchased the Kam Lake building together, transforming what used to be a spa into a café on the main floor.

The two also co-founded Trinity Tactical Consulting Ltd next door, a company that specializes in law enforcement training.

“It’s like a 20-year-old dream actually coming to fruition,” Nadine told Cabin Radio. “I love baking and just feeding people. This has always been a passion.”

Kamp Coffee opened its doors this week at 20 Hudson Avenue and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 4pm. Though currently closed Sundays, that may change depending on demand.

The menu features a mix of family recipes and staples from cinnamon buns and scones to Nadine’s favourite Newfoundland specialty – raisin tea biscuits. Breakfast and simple lunch items are also available.

On Thursday, the store was packed with customers who stopped by to check out the new location and try the coffee and baked goods. Nadine expects it to get a lot busier as time goes on.

Nadine said the building offered flexibility to try something new not just for themselves, but for the Kam Lake community. According to her, residents in the area don’t really have a place where they can unwind with a cup of coffee.

Growing up, she was surrounded by hospitality. Her parents owned a lodge where they would host people from around the world, and her mother baked plenty of traditional Newfoundland dishes to welcome guests.

Now, she’s bringing that same spirit to Kamp Coffee.

“We’re really looking forward to the fall, when people can come and sit around the fire pit, and just watch the aurora. Then, we might be open in the evenings for coffee for a little bit,” she said.

“Come on in. Everybody’s welcome.”