Some businesses open. Some businesses take root.
Lone Oak Brewing took root. Not in the most obvious location, not with the most straightforward plan, and not without a few pivots along the way. But from the moment it opened in Borden-Carleton in 2019, Lone Oak became something more than a craft brewery. It became part of the Island.
Today it spans five locations across Prince Edward Island, from Gateway Village to Charlottetown, Stratford, and Cavendish. But to understand why Lone Oak matters on PEI, you have to start at the beginning: a small town that needed a spark, three founders who believed in what it could become, and a vision that went well beyond selling beer.
Why Borden-Carleton?
Before Lone Oak arrived, Borden-Carleton was at a crossroads. The area had been seeing a slow decline, with vacant buildings and a Gateway Village that was not living up to its potential, and then the pandemic made things harder still.
To most, that would have looked like a reason to look elsewhere. To co-founder Jared Murphy and his partners, it looked like an opportunity and a responsibility.
“Our goal was to be a catalyst to bring back life to the area,” Jared explained in a feature published by CBDC. That intention shaped everything about how Lone Oak was built, from its location at the gateway to PEI, to the destination experience they set out to create for every visitor crossing the Confederation Bridge.
Gateway Village, positioned right at the Island’s entry point, had obvious potential. Thousands of visitors pass through every year. What was missing was a compelling reason to slow down, stay a while, and experience something local. Lone Oak was built to be exactly that.
How the Idea Came Together
The founding of Lone Oak began with Jared Murphy, and an idea that started somewhere different entirely.
Jared’s path toward entrepreneurship started while managing a retail store during university. After graduating, he went on to work in marketing and communications at Sport PEI, where his interest in building something of his own only grew stronger. As he put it, the competitive nature of sport translated directly into how he thought about business: “In sport you are training all the time, you are working towards goals and it’s a very competitive nature, but I think that translates well into business.” (CBDC)
The original plan was a cidery. But when Jared connected with Spencer Gallant, a brewer at the PEI Brewing Company, the conversation shifted. The more they talked, the clearer it became that craft beer offered stronger market potential, and Spencer already had the expertise to back it up. Jared was candid about what Spencer brought to the table: “He’s widely recognized as one of the most talented in the industry not just in PEI but also within Canada, so that was exciting for me.” (CBDC)
The third co-founder, Dillon Wight, rounded out the team. His experience bartending at Gahan gave him hands-on knowledge of the hospitality and sales side of the industry. With Jared handling vision and marketing, Spencer leading the brewing, and Dillon grounding the business in front-of-house experience, the three had a well-rounded foundation from day one.
After roughly a year and a half of planning and preparation, Lone Oak Brewery opened in 2019.
Building Something Worth Staying For
The founders built Lone Oak to be a destination, not just a stop. The facility was designed to give people reasons to arrive, stay, and return: indoor and outdoor seating, a taproom, live music, trivia nights, and on-site food through The Abby, operated by Terry Nabuurs.
As Jared described it: “So now you can come in and enjoy the space, enjoy a beer, get a bite to eat, and listen to some live music.” (CBDC)
Lone Oak also became something of an event venue, with the space available for private bookings including weddings.
Once tourism returned after the pandemic, the effect was visible. Weekdays at Gateway Village had a new energy, with visitors stopping straight off the bridge for a cold beer and a meal. The place that had been quiet was becoming the destination the founders had envisioned.
Getting Through the Pandemic and Preparing to Grow
Like every hospitality business, Lone Oak navigated serious challenges through the pandemic years. When the prospect of a returning tourist season came into view, the team knew they needed to be ready.
They applied for the Tourism Activation Grant through the CBDC. As Jared explained: “Obviously coming out of a pandemic and heading into what you hope to be the next busy season, that grant essentially allowed us to be better prepared for tourists entering PEI.” (CBDC)
The funding went toward building improvements: a new steel roof, renovated bathrooms, taproom upgrades, and a better outdoor patio. But the most meaningful impact was on inventory. In Jared’s words: “The biggest thing for us was building up our inventory. We needed quite a bit of cash to be ready for the busy season because otherwise all of our cash would have been tied up in products which can be a little bit scary. The Tourism Activation Grant relieved some of that stress heading into the season.” (CBDC)
That first real tourist season confirmed what the founders had believed. The experience they had built was connecting with people. And the ambition behind it had not changed. As Jared put it plainly: “The dream is to be one of the most recognized micro breweries in Canada.” (CBDC)
Growing Across the Island
From that foundation in Borden-Carleton, Lone Oak grew.
Today the brand includes five locations across PEI: the Brewery Taproom and Golf Simulator in Gateway Village (Borden-Carleton), The Oak Downtown on Great George Street in Charlottetown, the Brewpub Restaurant on Milky Way in Charlottetown, Fox Meadow Restaurant and Event Centre in Stratford, and the Beer Garden at Avonlea Village in Cavendish.
Each location was added with intention. Charlottetown connects the brand to the Island’s downtown scene, with The Oak and the Brewpub serving different needs within the city. Fox Meadow in Stratford adds a dining and events dimension for a community looking for a neighbourhood-quality destination. The Beer Garden at Avonlea Village in Cavendish reaches visitors during PEI’s busiest summer season.
Together, these locations create a presence across the Island that feels natural, because each one fits the place it is in.
What Makes Lone Oak Stand Out
There are plenty of good places to eat and drink on Prince Edward Island. What makes Lone Oak different is the combination of authenticity, Island-wide presence, and a founding story rooted in genuine community purpose.
It started because three people saw potential in a place others had stopped noticing. It grew because the experience they created made people want to come back. And it expanded because each new location was built with the same care for place and community that defined the original.
For visitors, Lone Oak is often a first taste of PEI: a local beer after crossing the bridge, a meal made with Island ingredients, an evening that feels like it could only happen here. For locals, it is something different: a reliable part of the week, a place to bring out-of-town guests, a piece of the Island’s fabric.
Final Thoughts
Lone Oak Brewing started with a pivot, a partnership, and a purpose.
A cidery idea became a brewery. An acquaintance became a co-founder with one of the strongest brewing reputations in Canada. A declining stretch of Borden-Carleton became a destination.
And a brewery that opened in 2019 became a name that now stretches across Prince Edward Island, known for beer that is genuinely local, spaces that feel genuinely welcoming, and a story that is still going.
That is how Lone Oak Brewing started. And it is a pretty good reason for how it grew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Lone Oak Brewing? Lone Oak Brewing was co-founded by Jared Murphy, Spencer Gallant, and Dillon Wight. Jared brings a background in marketing; Spencer is the head brewer, widely recognized across the Canadian craft beer industry; and Dillon contributes hospitality experience from his time working in the industry on PEI.
When did Lone Oak Brewing open? Lone Oak Brewing opened in 2019 in Borden-Carleton, PEI, following about a year and a half of planning by the founding team.
Why did Lone Oak open in Borden-Carleton? The founders saw an opportunity to help revitalize an area that had been experiencing decline. Co-founder Jared Murphy described their goal as wanting “to be a catalyst to bring back life to the area.” Positioned at Gateway Village near the Confederation Bridge, the location offered high visitor traffic and a chance to create a genuine arrival experience for anyone coming to PEI.
Are Lone Oak beers brewed on PEI? Yes. All Lone Oak beers are brewed locally on Prince Edward Island by co-founder Spencer Gallant, recognized as one of the most talented craft brewers in Canada.
How many Lone Oak locations are there? Five: the Brewery Taproom and Golf Simulator in Borden-Carleton, The Oak Downtown and the Brewpub Restaurant in Charlottetown, Fox Meadow Restaurant and Event Centre in Stratford, and the Beer Garden at Avonlea Village in Cavendish.
What is Lone Oak’s long-term vision? Co-founder Jared Murphy has stated the goal is to become one of the most recognized craft breweries in Canada, while remaining rooted in Prince Edward Island life and hospitality.
Quotes attributed to Jared Murphy as published by CBDC (cbdc.ca).