Career Services

New owners take over Rosedale landmark
LISA GERVAIS, LINDSAY POST

ROSEDALE-A landmark on Hwy. 35 in Rosedale has reopened after a four-month closure.
Carmen and Sigi Battista have purchased the iconic Trading Post. They re-opened the business on March 12.
Sigi said the locals are "very happy to see it's open again.
"Local people have come in to greet us and have brought us flowers and plants." She said it is the best business welcome the couple had ever received.
Carmen was born in Toronto and the couple owned a meat distribution company in Mississauga. After that, they lived in BC for 13 years where they owned a deli and then a restaurant. They returned to Ontario to retire and chose Cameron in 2007. They then decided to return to the work force and found and fell in love with the Trading Post.
They have walked into a diverse business, as is the nature of trading posts. They still have a small general store with candies; a restaurant/deli with baking, meats and cheeses and soon-to-be added salads. Kawartha Dairy ice cream and milk will remain. There is the same huge variety of giftware, which includes canoes, kayaks and paddleboats as well as outdoor furniture.
A key draw, particularly for the kids, is the longest g-scale train set in Canada which runs for half-a-kilometre inside the Trading Post.
The Battistas are also planning to implement a service whereby people from Toronto heading to their cottages can order their dinner ahead of time and pick it up on the way through. The BBQ pit, with its aromatic hamburgers and other take-away food, will also be back in business outside. They make homemade soups, chilis, roast beefs and stews.
Sigi said she will carry on the tradition of "very much pushing local products, from food to artists." And, every Sunday night, antique cars will take part in a cruise night.
Carmen said March had been quiet, which had been expected, and it is giving the new business owners an opportunity to get "the little kinks out" and get ready for what promises to be a very busy summer ahead.
Their goal?
"To see it flourish again," Carmen said.