By Madison Gowan, Reporter, The Courier
Mary Cunningham, a two-time nominee for the Southwest Business Summit’s Young Entrepreneur Award and owner of The Border Café in St. Stephen, said her heart is “for community”—and everything about her café reflects that ethos.
“I want to see this community grow,” said Cunningham.
That goal guides everything from the café’s support of local events and initiatives to its sustainable practices, like donating used coffee grounds to the Victoria Street Community Garden.
“St. Stephen has so much potential to be a really great town with its own character and charm,” she adds. “We all need to do our part to contribute to that.”
Cunningham purchased the café—formerly Something’s Brewing—less than a year ago. Since taking ownership, she has reimagined the space as a welcoming, multigenerational gathering spot. The transformation hasn’t come without its hurdles.
“The biggest challenge with running any business is really the cost of everything,” she admits. “You don’t really realize how much everything costs until you’re in it.”
Often, she adds, doing what’s necessary comes at the expense of what’s creatively exciting.
“The fun things you want to do don’t always happen because you have to prioritize the important things.”
Still, Cunningham said she finds deep joy in shaping the café’s atmosphere.
“Connection is what creates the feeling I want here,” she said. “The most important thing is learning people’s names, remembering their orders—just doing the little things. That’s how you build community.”
That spirit of connection resonates with customers. Local patrons Joy and Stephanie describe The Border Café as a place with “good coffee, good atmosphere, and good food”—and more importantly, a needed hub for the town.
“It 100 percent fills a gap in St. Stephen,” they said. “When the café is closed, there’s nowhere to go.”
Another customer, Evan McBride, echoes the sentiment.
“There’s this hope for something cozy and comforting, which The Border Café delivers with a homemade touch. It’s heartfelt—not commercial. Every town needs a place like that.”
Cunningham is focused on “striving for excellence,” both in the café’s offerings and experience.
“We’re always trying new things—things you can’t get anywhere else around here,” she said.
Many of her creations are inspired by global flavours.
“I love Korean food. I love Mexican food. I try to find ways to bring those in—flavours I love—but make them accessible to people.”
A standout example: the Korean barbecue breakfast sandwich.
“It’s familiar—a breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, English muffin—but then we layer in something surprising. It’s approachable, but unique.”
That same experimental energy extends to lunch, with salads and sandwiches that rotate based on seasonal ingredients and inspiration.
“As we grow, we want to keep introducing new flavours while developing our own culinary voice.”
Her pursuit of quality also informs the café’s design. Cunningham, who has worked in warm, small-town cafés and visited high-end third-wave coffee shops, aimed to merge both experiences.
“I wanted the comforting atmosphere of places I’ve loved with the polish of a modern café,” she said.
Customers notice.
“It’s welcoming, upscale, chic,” Joy and Stephanie said. “There are chandeliers and branded posters—it’s pretty and thoughtful.”
While rising costs remain a challenge, Cunningham said being in a border town hasn’t been a setback. If anything, the café has benefited from cross-border community support.
“We’re seeing more positives than negatives,” she said. “There’s a lot of sympathy and goodwill from people who want to see us succeed.”
The café sources as locally as possible.
“Our coffee, milk, and eggs are all Canadian,” she said. “We try to support other local businesses and collaborate where we can.”
Though Cunningham acknowledges that “running a business can be thankless work sometimes,” she finds fulfillment in the relationships she’s built.
“It’s rewarding to connect with people who see what we’re trying to do—offering great coffee in a community where a higher-end café might not be expected.”
Her second nomination for the Young Entrepreneur Award is, she said, a meaningful recognition.
“It’s exciting. I was nominated last year just a month after opening. Being consistently recognized means the community sees what we’re doing.”
Cunningham is passionate about collaboration, not competition. “I believe in working together,” she said. The café has partnered with the Willow Centre for domestic violence services in Charlotte County—an organization close to her heart.
“Members of their team are regulars, so that connection has naturally grown into something meaningful.”
Earlier this year, The Border Café hosted an International Women’s Day fundraiser, donating 50 percent of daily profits to local charities supporting women. On May 30, the café joined the Willow Center again for Teal Day.
“Teal is one of our colours,” Cunningham notes. “It’s a perfect fit.”
Looking ahead, Cunningham said her favourite moments at the café are when the space is full and vibrant. She’s excited about new additions for summer, including outdoor seating and evening events.
“There’s not a lot of nightlife in St. Stephen—especially for people my age,” she said. “We want to create a place where people can hang out and have fun in a cool atmosphere.”
