Story: Mike Hector
Photos: Heidi Csernak and Suzy Lamont
Situated in the historic village of Marysville and only steps away from the Wolfe Island ferry dock is an iconic little yellow house that is known and loved by locals and visitors alike. Since opening in 2013, Cafe Tenango has brought a small slice of the big city to the island with a bounty of tempting caffeinated beverages including espresso, lattes and beyond - in addition to a selection of decadent ice cream flavours to indulge in.
Current owner, Ulla Sparrow purchased the business from former owner Mike Phillips during the summer of 2017 after an injury changed her perspective. The leisurely aspects of retirement just wouldn’t cut it anymore. She wanted to do more than just relax. So, she made the spontaneous decision to purchase a little cafe on Wolfe Island.
“I was in Florida, I spend three months of the year there - and on day five of my trip, I fell and broke my leg. So, there I am. Me and my big dog, sitting around for six weeks in a cast - and then another six weeks in an (air cast). And I thought to myself - I can’t do this. I have to keep moving. I knew that (Cafe Tenango) was for sale because the real estate agent went to school with my daughter. So, I called her up and asked if it was still available. I was told that the business was unlisted - but the owner wanted to sell. I said ‘I’m buying it!’ So I came back and bought the cafe in 2017. It’s great and the seasonal aspect works for me. It’s fun, you meet people and it gives me something to keep busy for 3-4 months of the year.” 
Ulla was no stranger to owning a business but was relatively new to the cafe scene. Her experience throughout the recovery process was an eye-opening event that caused her to take another look at the concept of retirement. Sitting around all day doing nothing was not an option. After re-thinking her retirement she describes her decision to purchase the cafe as absolutely spontaneous.
“It was completely out of the blue. When you are retired and 72, you don’t really think about buying a business do you? You should sit back and relax right? I can’t do that. The worst thing I can do is to be inactive. I have to keep moving. I have owned businesses before, but nothing like this! I took one look at the espresso machine back there, and said, how am I going to work this thing? Thankfully I have a great group of kids that work for me during the summer. As soon as they go back to school they say ‘can we come back next year?’ They’re really sweet.”
Cafe Tenango is situated in a prime location that is smack dab along the lineup to take the ferry to Kingston. The bright and colourful patio tables provide a perfect spot to enjoy a hot beverage or ice cream cone while waiting to catch the boat, or for those just arriving.
In the time since acquiring Cafe Tenango and the house next door as her summer home, Ulla has become quite taken with the island itself and the community. She enjoys interacting with her customers and the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere of Wolfe Island.
“Business really starts to pick up in the summer, once the cottagers begin to arrive. In the mornings, we sell a lot of coffee, and in the afternoons it’s the ice cream. We get it from Tracy’s Dairy which is just outside of Ottawa. Favourite flavours tend to vary, but right now, our big seller is the Salted Caramel.
It’s very eclectic here. The people are very nice. You’ve got such a mixture of people coming here seasonally - as well as the locals and farmers who live here. There are entire generations who have spent their entire lives on the Island. There are a couple of local ladies who love the ice cream, so I always invite them over for some. We get talking, and I say - ok, so you were born here but have you lived anywhere else?
And they say, yes! I used to live in the blue house. It’s so sweet.”
With two seasons under her belt, Ulla doesn’t regret her decision to purchase Cafe Tenango and looks forward to greeting a host of both new and regular customers for many seasons to come. As Wolfe Island continues to draw lots of tourists, this quaint little cafe provides a fantastic place to stop for a coffee break or a cold treat.
“Wolfe Island has a lot to offer during the summer. Of course, (Big Sandy Bay) is very popular. It’s nice because people can simply hop on the ferry from downtown Kingston and visit the island. It’s rural, it’s quiet, it’s peaceful. It has that wonderful village atmosphere.
It’s sweet here. Very nice people.” 
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