KEMPTVILLE - They say timing is everything.

In the case of Bubba and Bugs Coffee Bar, formerly Geronimo's in the heart of downtown Kemptville, the change of ownership timing couldn't have been worse - March 2020 when COVID-19 first hit Ontario.

"We started here that month to shadow the former owners," new co-owner Luc Vincent recalls. Luc (Bugs) and his partner Scott Godwin (Bubba) were fledgling business owners suddenly facing a potential nosedive in income due to a pandemic closure.

"Everything happened very fast - overnight - and we proactively shut down," Luc says, adding it was hard to know how to move forward.

"But we didn't come here to be defeated," says Scott.

"We always daydreamed about this," says Scott of their having a quaint coffee shop in a spacious heritage building, complete with curios and artwork on the walls. They admit they weren't exactly sure what they were getting into but no one, not even seasoned entrepreneurs, could know what a world pandemic could do.

They were shut down for five weeks. Rather than sit there scared, they used that time to "get their business ducks in a row," they say. The plan worked.

By mid-April when they could re-open, they were ready with new menu items for take-out. Patio and limited indoor seating began in July. "It was the best. The support from the community was overwhelming - and that's an understatement - we had to really dive in deep," says Scott.

They changed up their baking and started offering other new things while maintaining quality and freshness. They offered scones for Mother's Day, for example, special Halloween items and rainbow bread sandwiches for Gay Pride. People rave about their specialty and seasonal coffees, smoothies and teas. TripAdvisor ratings are near perfect.

"This is part of where we wanted to be and it's better than we anticipated," says Luc.

"It feels like ours now and feels natural, even with COVID. Maybe even more so with COVID. We've built strong relationships," says Scott.

"There are some awesome people who come through here. Many say thank you to us for being here and part of their 'normal' day," Scott adds. That's a great reward for following a dream in some very trying times.

Bubba and Bugs is located at 146 Prescott Street in Old Town Kemptville. You can give them a call at 613-258-2782. Visit their inspirational Facebook page for more information about their various specialty coffees and teas, sandwiches and treats. Watch their new video. They are closed Mondays.