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Yahk Soap Company expanding and reopening

Mother’s Day weekend quickly approaches and there are two great reasons to be in Yahk on the weekend of May 7 and 8...
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One of the famous goats on the roof at Yahk Soap Company.

Mother’s Day weekend quickly approaches and there are two great reasons to be in Yahk on the weekend of May 7 and 8: Two Scoop Steve opens for another season offering 32 ice cream flavours, homemade waffle cones and tasty meals, and it will also be the official grand reopening of the newly expanded Yahk Soap Company’s retail soap shop. The welcomed expansion was necessary to accommodate an increasing assortment of skin care products that will be available at the store.

The company started 10 years ago as Goat Mountain Soap when Marlene and Mike Mitchell began making goat milk based soaps in their 1,200-square-foot house in Creston. Nearly every room in the house had soap, or some reference to the soap making process in it and, as business quickly grew, it wasn’t long until the need for a larger and dedicated space was required.

As good timing would have it, the opportunity to purchase a small family run business in Yahk called Two Scoop Steve and Maggie’s Tea Room presented itself. In addition to starting a new venture in the ice cream business, the Mitchells realized the potential for a great location for a new building to house their soap production and retail shop. In 2004, Goat Mountain Soap moved to Yahk, complete with the now famous goats on the roof. The opening year in Yahk proved to be very busy as construction on the new building was underway while they managed the ice cream and restaurant business of Two Scoop Steve.

In addition to their retail location in Yahk, Goat Mountain Soap continued to grow by supplying retail shops across Canada. Further distribution into the United States reached north to the gift shops in the Alaskan ports catering to the tour ship industry and as far south as Florida when Disney-world signed on as one of its accounts.

Moving forward a few years, the Mitchells decided to dedicate their energies to their retail store and, in 2008, the wholesale division of Goat Mountain Soap Company was sold to a small home soap business in Alberta. The Mitchells changed the name to the Yahk Soap Company and, to this day, Marlene continues producing a variety of soaps and other products at the same location.

This year’s soap shop renovation will double the size of the retail area to make way for a new line of organic skin care products adding to their already popular goat milk line.

“I know what is in our products because I make them here myself,” said Marlene. “Quality ingredients are paramount in what we sell because consumers know what they want — and don’t want — to put on their skin.  Our company’s focus, since day one, has been to meet our customers ‘needs.”

In addition to goat milk based soaps, Yahk Soap Company offers lotions, creams, bath bombs and a lip balm that they proudly rate as the “best on the planet”.

“Being the producer, we can offer very good prices for excellent quality products,” added Marlene.

In addition the body care lines, Marlene also produces soy-based candles, and imports fashion jewelry from around the world. There are, of course, the souvenir Yahk T-shirts and ball caps, as well as local Kootenay artisan products.

Stop by for the official grand re-opening of the Yahk Soap Company and Two Scoop Steve that will be on the Mother’s Day weekend to see the new lines of products at the soap shop. Take a stroll down on the property’s rock lined paths where you can relax and watch the lazy Moyie River go by while you enjoy your favorite ice cream or sip on a cup of coffee.

What else is planned for this year? Coming back by popular demand are the Two Scoop barbeques and music jam, which have been done since the Mitchells opened the shop and are now a regular part of summers. A great bunch of very talented musicians come out to entertain, making for a relaxing afternoon of great music and food. Keep your eyes open for the first one.