ABOUT US
POOR MICHAEL'S EMPORIUM - BOOKS / ART / CAFE
offers a unique space with something for everyone. The Cafe offers up ‘Really Good’ Coffee (fair trade & organic)
and delicious ' made from scratch' baking, desserts and lunches. Browse the shop or relax on the patio.
The Bookshop offers a fine selection of quality used and collectible books, as well as a growing collection of Vinyl.
The ART/GIFT shop showcases an eclectic mix of Manitoba art and beautiful handmade treasures from Asia.
Music concerts are held on the patio throughout the summer. We also have a liquor license...
Where else can you browse the record stacks with a nice cold craft beer!
OUR HISTORY
Poor Michael’s Bookshop opened its doors in Onanole in the summer of 1992 by founding owner Michael Holm (1963-1996). In 1996, Murray Evans and Lei Anne Sharratt, the current owners, bought the original building and renovated it, adding a cappuccino bar and art/gift shop in 2001. In 2007, a post and beam addition was locally built by McArthur Woodworks, using locally sourced hand milled spruce logs, providing a beautiful space for the cafe and gift shop. In 2008 we added a brick patio in the back, a perfect place for a coffee and a snack...also where we hold our very popular music concerts.
offers a unique space with something for everyone. The Cafe offers up ‘Really Good’ Coffee (fair trade & organic)
and delicious ' made from scratch' baking, desserts and lunches. Browse the shop or relax on the patio.
The Bookshop offers a fine selection of quality used and collectible books, as well as a growing collection of Vinyl.
The ART/GIFT shop showcases an eclectic mix of Manitoba art and beautiful handmade treasures from Asia.
Music concerts are held on the patio throughout the summer. We also have a liquor license...
Where else can you browse the record stacks with a nice cold craft beer!
OUR HISTORY
Poor Michael’s Bookshop opened its doors in Onanole in the summer of 1992 by founding owner Michael Holm (1963-1996). In 1996, Murray Evans and Lei Anne Sharratt, the current owners, bought the original building and renovated it, adding a cappuccino bar and art/gift shop in 2001. In 2007, a post and beam addition was locally built by McArthur Woodworks, using locally sourced hand milled spruce logs, providing a beautiful space for the cafe and gift shop. In 2008 we added a brick patio in the back, a perfect place for a coffee and a snack...also where we hold our very popular music concerts.
In the spring of 2012, Brad Hall Construction helped us with the addition of a beauitful Mezzanine, keeping the open feeling of the high ceiling of the post & beam. This gave us extra floor space for more cafe tables and art display areas.
Spring of 2025, Lei & Murray sold Poor Michael's to Breanna Waterman & Charlee Toews. Breanna grew up in Onanole and spent many hours visiting Poor Michael's. She is excited to carry on the legacy of Poor Michael's and the shop will continue to be a local community hub.
Spring of 2025, Lei & Murray sold Poor Michael's to Breanna Waterman & Charlee Toews. Breanna grew up in Onanole and spent many hours visiting Poor Michael's. She is excited to carry on the legacy of Poor Michael's and the shop will continue to be a local community hub.
The original rustic Onanole land mark (original building) was built in the 1930s and became the first general store for the area. Folklore tales from these early days, told by a local historian, include visits by Grey Owl who supposedly visited the general store to purchase his bootleg booze at the back door. Fact or fiction?
