Sisters Mart: a new hub for holistic health and wellness 

Emma Dagher, co-owner of Sisters Mart, a one-stop shop for all things health and wellness, especially holistic products. 

Photos: Patrick Hart 

 

Sisters Mart: a new hub for holistic health and wellness 

By Patrick Hart 

 

Sisters Mart, a new store nestled in the popular Bank Street block between Third and Fourth avenues, is co-owned by a mother-daughter duo and is making a name for itself since opening in the spring.  

The store describes itself as a “one-stop shop for holistic health and wellness” and offers products from top brands in the health and wellness space along with a café serving prepared food and their signature matcha drinks. It’s the dream come true of Emma Dagher and her mom Stephanie Mathieson.  

“It’s been a long-time dream of ours to share our way of living and make it available for the community,” says Dagher. “We wanted to facilitate the access of curated holistic goods and make-from-scratch food that nourishes both the body and the soul.” 

 Mathieson is a holistic nutritionist and herbalist while Dagher grew up in the family business and did her studies in human design, astrology and energy work. “We have always said we are soul sisters!” Dagher says of her mother when asked about the store’s name. She says it also reflects women working together, empowering each other and creating a community of “sisters.” 

“Here at Sisters Mart, we consider ourselves a one-stop shop for all things health and wellness, with a specific focus on holistic products,” says Sara Smith, manager and in-house nutritionist at Sisters Mart. “This means that when you come in, you can find products like body care, nutrition and supplements.” 

The tables and shelves throughout the store’s open-concept layout put the depth of the product catalogue on full display. Cymbiotika (natural supplements), Living Libations (organic beauty products), The New New Age (herbal teas) and Ghia (non-alcoholic alternative drinks) are among the brands that the store carries.  

When asked to identify one product that has been particularly popular with customers, Smith points to Agent Nateur’s holi (mane) collagen. “Their collagen is world renowned at this point and keeps people coming back to purchase time and time again.” 

In addition to the retail offerings, Sisters Mart boasts a café complete with a matcha bar and a selection of “grab ‘n’ go” foods. “Our matcha bar is definitely the heart of the store,” says Smith. “We only use organic, ceremonial grade matcha. Oftentimes we get people coming in who say that they don’t like matcha or have never tried it before and leave absolutely loving it.” 

The café menu includes a variety of items that are refined-sugar-free, seed-oil-free and organic, including signature hot or iced matcha drinks, cacao, herbal teas and house-made salads and bowls. For the holiday season, Sisters Mart currently has a few festive menu items like the peppermint and gingerbread matcha lattes. 

Sisters Mart has made community integration a focal point for their business. In addition to sourcing the ingredients for their grab ‘n’ go bowls from local farms, the store stocks a variety of local brands. “A couple of lovely local companies that we work with and stock are La Fée Des Bois, who provide many health and wellness tinctures, as well as Ferme Sucre Doré, whose honey and maple syrup products are customer favourites,” says Smith, citing two businesses nearby in Quebec. Other local products include juices from Apothecary Kitchen and meat products from Arc Acres, a community-supported agriculture operation located just south of Ottawa. 

Sisters Mart is also putting a great effort into engaging with the local community through events. The store holds “cacao circles,” guided by a facilitator, for those interested in mindfulness practices paired with the enjoyment of ceremonial-grade cacao. “We’ve found there’s a community in Ottawa with a strong passion for cacao that has really come together,” says Smith. “We know a lot of people in Ottawa are new to cacao, so we also hold introductory circles for anyone interested in learning a bit more about it and connecting with others.” Sisters Mart also used their storefront on November 30 to host the Sisters Holiday Market, which brought together local artisanal vendors to showcase their products. 

 “There are so many wonderful health and wellness spots in Ottawa,” Smith says, in explaining how the store is trying to set itself apart, “so we’re trying to do something different, bringing all these great products under one roof and combining it with a strong community.”  

 

Patrick Hart is a Glebe resident with an interest in local business. 

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