About Us
Meet the Founders
After many years working in the mental health field, in 2004 Thomasina started baking at home and selling in the Vancouver Farmers Markets with her friend Deanne Dufour. With almost immediate success, her husband joined her in the venture, baking some items and doing a lot of "lifting." Unfortunately, due to health concerns, her friend Deanne could not continue.
Our History
In 2009 Thomasina and Jerome moved to Princeton, BC and opened as a bakery/tearoom in a rented facility in the Town Square. In late 2011, they purchased, renovated, and set up shop in their present location.
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Farmers Market Beginnings
Thomasina started baking at home and selling in Vancouver farmers markets with her friend Deanne Dufour.
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Move to Princeton
Thomasina and Jerome moved to Princeton, BC and opened as a bakery/tearoom in a rented facility in the Town Square. Thomasina's has become a destination cafe for tourists across Canada and around the world. Thomasina and Jerome bring much of their international experience to their business including many years in the Faroe Islands, The Netherlands, Spain, and SE Asia.
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Present Location
In late 2011, they purchased, renovated, and set up shop in their present location. The 279 Bridge Street building first opened on September 7, 1912 as a silent movie theatre. It stayed open for two years until the "talkies" technology arrived. The cinema then moved to 114 Vermillion in the Town Square, which happens to have been our first rented location in Princeton.
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Still Part of Daily Life
It is not just a cozy living room with great handmade food; it is also about knitting the local and international community together. While Thomasina's strives to be prompt and efficient, there is always time for a meaningful and playful connection with customers who want it. Thomasina's serves breakfast, lunch, a variety of bread and baked goods, and awesome coffees. On Thursday and Friday evenings they serve Strange Fellows craft beer and wine along with artisan pizzas in a friendly, engaging atmosphere with live music on many occasions. Even though they are both "mostly" retired, Thomasina and Jerome are often in the shop, having handed off the running of the shop to their competent staff. If you would like to meet up with them, just text ahead of time so they can be sure to be there when you stop by.
The Short Colorful History of 279 Bridge Street, Princeton. Built in 1912, the building at 279 Bridge Street is one of the oldest buildings in Princeton. On the evening of September 11, 1912, a small crowd waited patiently in line to buy their first ticket to a movie in what was built as a Silent Movie Theatre. Remnants of the projector room are still visible in the loft above the entrance as you walk in. The theatre lasted about 2 years, eventually succumbing to the onset of the “talkies”. Subsequently, the owner, Mr. Tug Wilson, then hosted a pool hall, boxing ring and gambling establishment in the building. He also owned the Riverside Cabins next to the Brown Bridge at the time. Legend has it that at one time there was a tunnel that went from 279 Bridge to the Princeton Hotel across the street on what is now the Save On parking lot. Apparently, the building was used as an escape route for gamblers who had to make quick getaways when the RCMP would come to raid the place. The Princeton Hotel burned down in 2006. In the late 1930’s, the new owner, Mr. James Corrie moved his tobacco and book business into the Princeton Hotel and then after a couple of years purchased the 279 Bridge Street property where he expanded his business to include a wholesale component. His daughter Janet and son-in-law Ted Hardin took over the business till 1973 after which it became a rental property. Over the years the property has served as a Drug Store, Schneider Meats, Myers Meat Market, Fishers Meat Market, Howie’s Plumbing and Heating, Firm Design, Betty Boobs Fashions, Jenny’s Books, Happy Crafters, Kevin Acres Feed & Seed & Flowers, Princeton Farm and Pet and the Winking Pedler Antique Shoppe. Ownership of the property changed hands for the third time in 2012 when Thomasina Murdock purchased the building for a Bakery Café. Upon purchasing, Thomasina’s underwent extensive renovations and upgrading and has since become a landmark destination for locals and travelers from all over the world. The flood of 2021 resulted in another major renovation with the replacement of most of the foundation. In 2025, the Princeton Mental Health Society youth program received funding to put up a stunning mural on the side of the building highlighting the “metamorphosis” of not only the building, but Princeton as a whole, as it recovered from that devastating flood. Back in 1911 this building was but a dream in the mind of the builder. Since completion, numerous entrepreneurs (dreamers all) have made and sold things and gone through their daily opening and closing routines every day for over 114 years. It has served Princeton well and will do so for many more years into the future.