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Rural Oxford County, Ontario

Grow Your Business Here!

Small-town charm, big business potential.

Rural Oxford Economic Development helps local business owners and investors explore commercial opportunities and potential sites across Oxford’s five rural townships — Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford, and Zorra. We provide confidential guidance, at no cost to you.

Downtown Tavistock in East Zorra-Tavistock

People. Proximity. Prosperity.

What makes this region work.

Real People. Stronger Together

Why Choose Rural Oxford.

“When I moved out here 20 years ago, there was maybe one-tenth of the houses that there are now, and we knew everyone. There’s still a pride in your community and a desire to get to know your neighbours, and this kind of allows people to do that.”

- Katie Prouse, Irv's Ice Cream Shop

Katie Prouse and staff at the counter of Irv's Ice Cream Shop in Mount Elgin

“For me, it’s about more than just running a business. It’s about creating an experience, supporting the community, and continuing to build something that people are proud to have right here in Oxford County. There is something special about driving through the countryside and seeing a tractor working in the field — it’s a reminder of the agricultural roots and hard work that are such an important part of this community.”

- Steve Bohner, The Oxford Hills

Steve Bohner and team in front of The Oxford Hills sign

“You meet your customer base everywhere. You can walk uptown Woodstock, and fifteen people at the restaurant know who you are. It’s kind of nice, you walk by, hey Jeff, hey Shawn. It’s like, yeah, saw you in the shop yesterday.”

- Jeff Veldjesgraaf, JTK Meat Shoppe

“I like the small-town feel, I like being part of the community, and being a pillar in that community. You have that rapport — you know what has happened in the past, you know what is going on with any particular patient at once. It’s a privilege to care for a village of people in that way.”

- Marcie Prior, Pharmasave Thamesford

Marcie Prior inside Pharmasave Thamesford

“It’s home. My neighbours also have been my neighbours for a very long time. So there’s that sense of community. Small businesses work well together. I don’t feel like I’m competing for traffic with others in our spaces. There’s a sense of using each other’s skills and growing each other’s businesses.”

- Danielle Paluska, Wild Comfort Body Care

Danielle Paluska of Wild Comfort Body Care with her handmade products

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News and stories from across the region.

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A partnership across five townships.

Rural Oxford Economic Development is a non-profit corporation funded by the Townships of Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford, and Zorra.


If you are navigating business growth in one of Rural Oxford’s townships – Make us your first call.

Opportunity in Zorra! This is your opportunity in Rural Zorra: an approximately 40'x60' shop plus an approximately 20'x40' attached apartment, set on 0.64 acre with C2 zoning.

The shop features radiant gas heat, a heat pump, window AC, and a steel roof. The attached apartment offers forced air gas heating and central AC, with a living room, kitchen with eating area, bedroom, and two bathrooms. A mezzanine/utility room above the apartment adds laundry and attic storage space.

Conveniently located, this property offers flexibility for a range of business or live-work uses.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29772746/684280-road-68-zorra-rural-zorra

#RuralOxford #Zorra
Ben Rawson tried contracting first. It didn't take.

What did take hold was woodworking. In 2015, Ben started building custom tables and furniture on the side, and the response surprised even him. Eleven years later, I Wood Build in Kintore is a small, deliberately personal shop built almost entirely on word of mouth: custom carpentry, refined timber work, and live-edge pieces, with much of the wood milled from the bush lot across the road.

What Ben values most is the story behind each piece. A family tree that came down in a storm, salvaged barn timbers, logs a client wants preserved rather than discarded. He turns them into something a family can keep living with for generations. His advice for other business owners: don't undervalue yourself, and trust your gut. Looking ahead, he's aiming to reach beyond Zorra Township and add heritage refinishing and repair work.

Read Ben's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/i-wood-build-turning-bush-lot-timber-into-heirlooms-in-kintore/ 

#RuralOxford #ZorraTownship #Kintore #BusinessSpotlight #Woodworking #ShopLocalOxford #SmallBusiness
Lest We Forget.
Opportunity in Zorra! Seize the chance to own the only restaurant in the village of Embro, with this prime corner property on Commissioner Street.

This well-loved, family-style establishment seats up to 98 guests and enjoys high visibility and ample parking, making it a favourite for locals and a magnet for passing traffic. Conveniently located near London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, and Stratford, it's well positioned to attract a broad customer base. The restaurant comes fully equipped for a smooth transition, and also features a seasonal ice cream shop and a newer outdoor patio.

The property also includes a vacant 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment on the upper level, ideal for rental income or personal use.

An ideal investment for those looking to run a successful community fixture.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/30015910/103-commissioner-street-zorra-embro

#RuralOxford #Zorra #Embro
Pete Jones didn't set out to open a pub. A factory closure and a father's loan got him there instead.

When the plant he worked at shut down, Pete saw an opening: pay off his father's loan on the Drumbo building and become a partner. The partnership fell apart quickly, so he pressed on alone. A year of work followed, including formal objections from local residents to the liquor licence. On December 6, 2002, approval finally came through, and Pete opened the same day.

He started with a personal deep fryer and a George Foreman grill. Today The Drumbo Pub runs a full kitchen with a pizza oven, roast beef sandwiches, quartered chicken dinners, and Friday fish and chips. What he's proudest of is what the pub has given a small town with few places to gather. "It's a lifestyle business," he says. Next up: possibly breakfast.

Read Pete's full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/the-drumbo-pub-becoming-the-communitys-central-hub-since-2002/ 

#RuralOxford #BlandfordBlenheim #Drumbo #BusinessSpotlight #ShopLocalOxford #CommunityHub #SmallBusiness
Opportunity in South-West Oxford! This 10-unit T-hangar at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport is fully leased, with all 10 bays currently rented and generating income.

Each bay features a 41.5 ft. wide bifold door, 9.5 ft. of open height, and 32 ft. of bay depth, offering flexibility for private or commercial aviation use. A paved taxiway connects directly to the runway, and both Oxford County and Township of South-West Oxford bylaws permit industrial and commercial aviation-related activities on site.

The airport itself has a strong sense of community, anchored by the Skyway Cafe, and sits just 10 minutes from the 401, making it a well-connected option for owner-operators or investors.

Worth a closer look for the right business plan.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29712823/g2-14-244411-airport-road-south-west-oxford-rural-south-west-oxford

#RuralOxford #SouthWestOxford
Opportunity in Zorra! This prime Highway Commercial property in Rural Zorra offers excellent exposure and strong business potential on 8.22 acres.

HC zoning permits a wide range of commercial uses, including eating establishments, hotel, motel, motor vehicle sales, motor vehicle washing, public garage, parking lot, farm implement dealership, farm produce retail outlet, auction establishment, and more (buyer to verify intended use and municipal requirements).

Ideal for investors, developers, or owner-users seeking visibility and future growth potential in a high-traffic location.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29865229/684471-68-road-zorra-rural-zorra

#RuralOxford #Zorra
Walk into a grocery store and you can just as easily find Australian or Brazilian beef on the shelf as anything raised down the road. For Jeff Veldjesgraaf, that never sat right.

With 30 years in the hog industry, Jeff and his wife Tanya wanted to promote Canadian and Ontario product. "We are 100% Canadian," he says, and the meat counter at JTK Meat Shoppe in Verschoyle has never deviated. This year marks ten years since the doors opened in 2016, growing from a single freezer into a full shop with its own Smoke and Grill and just under 30 staff.

What Jeff is proudest of is who's standing beside him. With his son Shawn stepping fully into the business, succession has become a lived reality. Next up is more space, new products, and a collaboration with farmers aimed at making the beef supply over 80% Ontario.

Read the full story
https://ruraloxford.ca/jtk-meat-shoppe-staying-100-canadian-through-a-decade-in-verschoyle/ 

#RuralOxford #SouthWestOxford #Verschoyle #BusinessSpotlight #ButcherShop #ShopLocalOxford #FamilyBusiness

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