When you’re in the mood for a chat - and maybe a delicious homemade breakfast - Bayview Convenience is the perfect place to stop when on the Burin Peninsula.  

In the fall of 2020, owner Stefan Matchem purchased the existing C&S Central store in Fortune and immediately began making the business his own.  

“My family always said I was social with lots of energy, so when the opportunity arose for me to venture into a career that allows me to be busy and interact with multiple people, I jumped on it,” Matchem says. “We started small, operating as a convenience store. We now have made many positive additions and offer a large variety of items.” 

Bayview Convenience has also recently incorporated an on-site cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch, Matchem says. 

“My favorite part of owning my own business is the social factor. I love serving customers or making new connections, Matchem says. “Being a small business owner to me means owning something you can be proud of and giving back to my community.”  

Matchem says Bayview Convenience is also one of the only businesses of this type in the town of Fortune, so it’s a key place for meeting and shopping in the community for both locals and tourists. And without the help of CBDC Burin Peninsula, his dream of owning and operating a local business wouldn’t be a reality.  

“CBDC has been amazing. They listened to my vision, made this desire possible, and have been the backbone in operating,” Matchem says.  

Thank you to our Government of Canada partners at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), who collaborate with us to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Together, we will continue to build a stronger Atlantic Canadian economy, fostering job growth and strengthening our rural communities.