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. 
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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. 
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?

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THE CAFE

Enjoy a “really good” coffee or a bite to eat inside the cafe, on our patio or take it to go!  "Really Good" Coffee  - fresh brewed, fair trade,
and organic.   Specialty coffees & teas, Italian sodas, Iced Coffees, Smoothies and more.  We serve delicious homemade baking, desserts,
and light snacks .   All our food is homemade using local and organic ingredients whenever possible.

We also sell fair trade organic coffee beans & teas, chocolate bars, honey & other organic snacks and food items.
photo by Colin Corneau
THE CAFE

Poor Michael's Cafe is a unique space to enjoy a 'really good' coffee, enjoy a book, or have lunch
with friends.  A fantastic menu of organic, locally sourced food, fresh brewed fair trade coffee
& organic  beverages offers something for everyone.   
FRESH BAKING & DESSERTS

We serve delicious homemade baking, desserts, and light lunches. 
 Our Food is Homemade with Local & Organic Ingredients when possible! 
Apple Berry Crumble / with ice cream
Biscotti
Banana Bread (Vegan)
Cookies
Carrot Cake
Cheesecake
Chocolate Brownies (Gluten Free)
Granola Bars (Organic Vegan & Wheat Free)
Grey Owl’s Balls (healthy energy balls)
Tarts - Pecan/Butter Rum or Berry Crumble (with ice cream)
Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes (Vegan & Gluten Free)

LIGHT BREAKFAST & LUNCH
Our Food is Homemade with Local & Organic Ingredients when possible!
Quiche 
Spinach & Feta
served with black olives, cucumbers & veggies on the side)

Fiesta Bean Burritos
(with salsa, sour cream & veggies)

Veggie Lasagne 
served with black olives, cucumbers & veggies on the side)

Soups - Veggie & Gluten Free
Veggie Coconut Curry or Veggie & Wild Rice
comes with a toasted bun & veggies on the side

Veggie Burger
Chickpea Patty
cheddar cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers & sprouts
dill pickle on the side

Toasted Bagel & Cream Cheese 
(butter and or jam is an option)

Breakfast Delight 
(Homemade Granola, with Yogurt & Fruit)
BEVERAGE MENU:
Our coffees are Fair Trade & Organic!
Hot Coffee & Tea
Today’s Brew 
Espresso
Canadiana - 2 shots of organic espresso run through to 8oz or stretched to 12oz 
French Press (14 oz)
Hemingway’s Hammer - Kick Ass Dark Roast
with a double shot of Espresso! 
Cappuccino
Cafe Latte
Cafe Mocha
Chai Latte
Steamers - Flavoured syrup & steamed milk 
Onanole FOG -Steeped tea bag (earl grey)
w/1oz fr. vanilla syrup& steamed milk
Hot Chocolate
Tea - bag and loose whole leaf
Ginger Warmer - Fresh Ginger, Squeeze of
Lemon & Honey - A Travellers Delight
 
Decaf available in espresso & drip! 
Soy, Almond or Coconut also available
Cold Beverages
Iced Cappuccino / Latte - espresso over ice with milk  (sugar & cream optional)
Iced Chai 
Iced Mochas - espresso over ice with milk  
(sugar & cream optional)
Italian Soda - flavoured syrup over ice with sparkling water (cream optional)
Lassi (smoothie) Organic
 organic blueberries, organic raspberries,
organic banana, organic plain yogurt,
organic soy milk - blended!
Black River Juice & Iced Tea
Good Drink  (spritzer sodas)
Sparkmouth - sparkling sodas
 Zevia (sugar free) POP
Laughing Buddha - Organic Coconut Water
Sparkling Kombucha
Fentimans - Root Beer, Cola, Ginger Ale
& Rose Lemonade
Apple Cider

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Beer, Wine & Baileys
Yes, we now have a
Dining Room Liquor License
Enjoy a cold beverage outside on the patio
or inside the shop!


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THE BOOKSHOP

Poor Michaels Bookshop carries a fine selection of quality used books with categories in Canadiana, classic literature, general fiction, mystery/crime; world & natural history, religion, travel and art. In addition, we stock large quantities of collectible and current magazines.  
Stock changes daily, we are always buying quality used books.
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“Always one of the most interesting bookshops in Western Canada”... 
Richard Spafford, Spafford Books, Regina, Saskatchewan. 

VINYL
An ever growing selection of quality used vinyl. Always buying quality classic rock, blues, jazz & vintage country.

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MANITOBA ART

We showcase a fine selection of pottery, stained glass, paintings, artist prints, photography, jewellery, woodwork, mosaics, moccasins, and much more! Manitoba has many talented artists with a rich diversity in various mediums, from functional to decorative. We feel it’s very important to support & promote our local and regional artists who enrich our lives with their beautiful creations.
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Sue Davar, Onanole

ARTISTS

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GLOBAL CRAFTS

Poor Michael's offers fine quality Global Crafts with an emphasis on handmade items.  We personally travel overseas to hand select work from artisans, small family run businesses and organizations. We buy what we love, hoping that our friends and customers will love it too!  We have one on one interactions with the people we buy from, creating fair & healthy relationships with artisans & small businesses.
One of our passions is to travel. We love exploring new areas, wandering aimlessly through villages and cities, seeking out handmade crafts & learning about cultural heritages.  Recently we have been travelling to Asia for our goods, including India, Nepal, Thailand & Bali.
Some of the organizations that we are associated with internationally are:

Hamara Saahas Women's Organization - Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Anokhi - Jaipur, Rajasthan
Fabindia - India
Sambhali Trust  - Jodhpur
Mithila Women Handicraft - Nepal
Weaving for Women - Thai/Burmese refugee weaving coop.
Baba Tree Baskets - Ghana
Qasab - Kutch Embroidery
Women's Skills Development Organization - Nepal

Home Decor & Small Furniture Pieces

GLASS LANTERNS 
from Bali
SMALL FURNITURE PIECES
Beautiful one of a kind decorative furniture from Rajasthan, India.

Folk Art

WOOD & METAL FOLK ART
from Bali & India.

Jewellery

HANDCRAFTED JEWELLERY 
FILIGREE SILVER WORK & GEMSTONES 
made by silversmiths in Bali, Nepal, India
TRIBAL DANCE JEWELLERY 
Tribal Dance Jewellery from Afghanistan

Textiles

BEAUTIFUL HANDWOVEN SILK SCARVES
from Thailand
HAND EMBROIDERED TEXTILES
from Gujarat, India
HAND BLOCK PRINTED CLOTHING, TABLECLOTHS & BED SHEETS
from India
HAND KNIT SWEATERS, SOCKS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES
from Bahktapur, Nepal
BATIK
 from Bali.

Clothing & Accessories

HAND KNIT SWEATERS, SOCKS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES
from Bahktapur, Nepal.
HAND MADE EXCELLENT QUALITY LEATHER BAGS & BELTS
from Thailand.
WOVEN BASKETS 
from Lombok. 
BEAUTIFUL HANDWOVEN SILK SCARVES 
from Thailand.

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SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

We love hosting musical events. Throughout the summer we host 6 or 9 concerts on our outdoor Patio, which accommodates 100 fans!
Nothing beats having a coffee & dessert, a cold beer or glass of wine, while sitting outside on a beautiful summer eve listening to live music.  
We also host occasional authors, writers and poets.

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SAT. JUNE 24
TWO CROWS
FOR COMFORT
Harmony singing is so key to roots-folk music and Two Crows have nailed that perfectly. The duo that had no intentions of playing anything more than an open mic here and there have unintentionally created something unique and special. Two Crows - Erin Corbin and Cory Sulyma - have been charming audiences across North America with their stories
and poignant lyrics.

$25 ticket in advance!


THURSDAY, JULY 20
SCOTT NOLAN
Award Winning - ROOTS SINGER SONGWRITER - POET
Scott Nolan is a songwriter, poet, multi instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba Treaty One Territory. His songs have been recorded by Mary Gauthier,
Watermelon Slim, and Corin Raymond among others. After more than a decade of relentless touring, he decided to take a year or so away from the road to collaborate, produce records, and enjoy his life in Winnipeg. A play was produced through Manitoba Theatre Projects based on the nine albums he has released since 2003. The play, I Dream of Diesel, enjoyed a two week run of sold-out shows and critical praise from both the community and critics.

It’s great to have Scott back on the Poor Michael’s stage!

$25 ticket in advance!



Saturday, AUG 5
7:30pm
TOM WAITS FOR NO ONE
A Celebration of the
Music of Tom Waits
Brought to you by
BILLY ACE
JOSE CABRAL
IAIN EDYE
MURRAY EVANS
INGRID GATIN
In the work of American songwriter Tom Waits, swampy blues, Beat poetry, West Coast jazz, Tin Pan Alley, country, 1930s-era cabaret, and post-Civil War parlor songs meet neon-lit carnival music and wheezing, clattering, experimental rhythms, forming a keenly individual musical universe.

$25 ticket in advance!

Summer Concert Series 2023

SAT. JULY 1
7:30pm
THE HANDSOME FATTIES
The Handsome Fatties are
an acoustic duo comprised
of lifelong friends,
Bill Acevedo and Marc
Clement. Both raised in The City of Sunshine (Dauphin)
on their parents’ love of rock
& roll, hillbilly music,
classic country and polkas.
All of which they completely abandoned in their teens for heavy metal, punk rock,
post-punk and new wave.
Later the duo became drawn to folk music and Americana as they began performing
as The Handsome Fatties
in the early 1990’s. All these
influences are mirrored in
the eclectic nature of their
live performances.
Join us for a
Pre-Fireworks Party...
Free Admission!
Enjoy live music on the patio... Beer & Wine available!


 August 10.11.12
Route 10 Collective
presents
A MIXED TAPE
THE BEST OF 1973
at Onanole Community Centre
*tickets available in advance
at Poor Michael's - $30
CASH ONLY!

FRI. JULY 14
7:30pm
THE SMALL GLORIES
Award Winning Canadian Roots Powerhouse Duo


THE SMALL GLORES are
CARA LUFT & JD EDWARDS
a musical tour-de-force partnership planted on the Canadian
Prairies. These veteran singer-songwriters have a way of making time disappear, rooms shrink, and audiences feel as though they are right there on the stage with the band. Their heartwarming and hilarious show has won over audiences from Nashville to the Australian
outback! Excited to have Cara & JD back at Poor Michael’s.

$30 ticket in advance!




Postponed until
Saturday, Sept 2
7:30pm
MADELEINE ROGER
TRIO
Madeleine Roger is a folk
singer-songwriter from Winnipeg, MB. While deftly accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, it is her artistry as a songwriter and
storyteller that can silence a room, uniting her brilliantly crafted lyrics with imaginative melodies that linger long after they are sung. Her critically-acclaimed debut
album Cottonwood combines the elegant storytelling of folk traditions with the grounded vibe of roots music. Her new album will be released in Fall 2023.

$25 ticket in advance!



Saturday, AUG 19
7:30pm
SAM BAARDMAN BAND
Sam Baardman is a Singer-Songwriter
living in Winnipeg, MB. A veteran of the Canadian folk music scene, Sam has
been a familiar figure in folk venues and festivals across Canada. Described by the
Winnipeg Free Press as “one of the city’s
strongest and most literate
songwriters,” he delivers
powerful, genuine songs that speak to the heart. Sam will be appearing at
Poor Michael’s with Karla Ferguson, Susan Israel & Corey Ticknor,  in a powerhouse quartet that’s not to be missed!

$25 ticket in advance!

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CONTACT US:
Contact Us:
poormichaels@gmail.com
phone:  204-848-0336
off season phone:  204-848-4087

Located At:
322 Highway 10  (Box 209)
Onanole, Manitoba, Canada
R0J 1N0
(at the corner of #10 Highway and Albin Avenue)
 Open Seasonally
April to October

Fall Hours:
OPEN
6 DAYS A WEEK
10am to 5pm
CLOSED TUESDAYS

We will be closed on Sat. Sept 30
to commemorate the
National Day of Truth & Reconciliation

Last Day of the Season will be
MON. OCT. 9

Thank you... we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Cheers,  Murray & Lei

FIND US:

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Poor Michaels Emporium., 2014.  Photography by Colin Corneau & Poor Michael's. Website design & photography by Whirlpool Design
Website by Whirlpool Road Design
Poor Michaels Bookshop