From frequent coffee dates to new Revel café owners

(Left to right): Anne Campion, founder of Revel Cafe, and new owner Stephanie Schmidt spoke highly of the direct trade cafe and its legacy.

Revel founder Anne Campion has passed the torch to new owners and longtime customers Stephanie and Colin Schmidt.

The Schmidts took over Revel, a direct trade café on 37 Market Pl, on Feb. 1 after Campion served Stratford for 14-and-a-half years. Speaking to the Stratford Times on Jan. 29, a few days before the changeover, Campion felt like she’s at the right time to pass on her business.

"I've loved everything I've done and it's time to see different visions and different perspectives,” said Campion.

Campion also said that since opening Revel’s doors, she had a vision for her business and how long she wanted to run it for. She grew the café as much as possible, even during the struggles the hospitality industry faced during the height of COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions from 2020 to early 2022.

"Now, it just feels like it's the right time,” Campion said. “It's right for the city, it's right for me, it's right for Steph and Colin as they take over and as they buy the business and Revel still gets to be here and I get to come in and be a customer and support them and champion them in their business."

She said the Schmidts were the best fit for new ownership for a variety of reasons.

"They were our customers. They both love coffee,” Campion said. “They both love what Revel is and what it has meant to the community as a place of diversity and open inclusion and welcoming. They are committed to the journey of coffee and ensuring that farmers are paid appropriately for their coffee."

After Campion spoke with the Stratford Times, she went back behind the counter so Stephanie Schmidt could sip on a latte during her interview. Schmidt looked forward to running the café with her husband Colin.

“We're just excited to bring our touch to Revel but also try to honour everything that Anne has created here because it's a really special place,” she said.

The Schmidts often have their family coffee dates at Revel and have since their children were young.  Stephanie also loves the pastries the chefs create and tried every baked good.

“We always loved the building, the vibe, the feel,” Schmidt said. “You walk in and it's just a special feeling. Also, my husband and I, it has always been a goal to own something together and it kind of just aligned. The stars aligned."

Since the Schmidt’s took over, batch brew drip coffee returned to Revel.

"Everything else is going to be a bit of a slow burn,” Schmidt said. “We do have lots of ideas, but it'll be business as usual."