About Mrs. McGarrigle's
Mrs. McGarrigle's is a gourmet food and kitchen shop on St. Lawrence Street in Merrickville, the heritage village on the Rideau Canal. Janet Campbell started the business in 1988 by making condiments after hours in the basement of an Ottawa hostel, and it grew into a full fine food, kitchenware and home decor store. The house mustards, 14 varieties made right in the store, are still the reason most people come.
Beyond mustard, the shelves carry jams and spreads, sauces, spices and seasonings, oils and vinegars, vinaigrettes, honey, coffee and tea, chocolate and treats, and a large section of products made in the area. Gift boxes are put together for holidays and hosts. The shop also makes take-home dinners, including Friday night meals, plus charcuterie and catering for events.
Hands-on cooking classes are held in the store in small groups with no experience needed, and guests get 15% off store merchandise on class day. Classes run in the first half of the year; the shop says the next round returns January to June 2027. Spots are booked by phone, and classes are non-refundable, though with a week's notice you can send a friend or take store credit.
Lavender Mills Farm in Oxford Mills is about 15 km east, roughly a 20-minute drive, so in July you can browse Merrickville's shops and canal locks and still reach the lavender rows in the afternoon.
What to do
- Pick from 14 house-made mustards
- Put together a gift box of local jams, sauces and spices
- Order a take-home dinner or charcuterie
- Book a hands-on cooking class, January to June
- Walk to the Rideau Canal locks in the village after shopping
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Shop open year-round; cooking classes January–June
- Hours
- Posted hours (2026): daily 10 am–6 pm; closed December 25, December 26 and January 1
Good to know
- Reservations
- Walk-in
Tips for your visit
- Cooking classes book by phone; the online form alone doesn't hold a spot
- Ask about take-home dinners if you're staying nearby for the weekend
- Combine your visit with a walk through the village to the canal locks
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Mills Farm · about 20 minutes away
Shop in Merrickville, then drive about 20 minutes east to Lavender Mills Farm in Oxford Mills.
Getting there
Questions
What are the shop hours?
Daily 10 am to 6 pm, closed December 25, December 26 and January 1.
How many mustards do they make?
Fourteen varieties, made in the store.
When are cooking classes?
Classes run January to June; the next season returns in January 2027. Book by phone.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Kemptville & Merrickville, Ontario
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
