Food + Drink
October 31, 2016
Coffee Roaster JJ Bean Opens at Yonge + St. Clair
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters opens today at 2 St Clair Avenue W, its third location in Toronto this year. The Vancouver company is an early partner in the redevelopment of the Yonge + St Clair intersection. Owner John Neate was initially attracted by Deer Park’s houses and neighborhood. “There are communities that I walk in and I’m happy and I want to go back. They bring me life,” he says. “There’s artists, there’s a park, there’s independent fashion, interesting architecture. Those are places I’m drawn to.”
The housing around Yonge + St Clair served as inspiration for the cafe’s design, as well — including an impressive slate-styled arched roof that hangs over the espresso bar. This is in stark contrast from how JJ Bean Adelaide’s black granite counters and dark wood panels blend into the lobby of 130 Adelaide Street West, and the minimalist industrial aesthetic of JJ Bean Bartley, just east of the city at 197 Bartley Drive. The company has become known as much for its distinctive store designs, each one suited to its surroundings and history, as it is known for high-quality coffee.
After two decades of honing its specialty coffee niche on the west coast, JJ Bean is now poised to expand across Toronto. JJ Bean serves seasonal single-origin coffees and signature blends on French press and drip-filter options, and a selection of classic espresso-based beverages. The coffee is roasted to order each day at JJ Bean Bartley, which serves as roastery and commissary, where food is prepared fresh daily for each cafe to bake every morning. JJ Bean also serves full-meal options including wraps and sandwiches through its in-house artisan bread program.
JJ Bean has often been at the forefront of neighborhood regeneration in Vancouver, with many locations such as Main Street, Woodward’s, and Fraser opening in advance of community growth. But the company also stays true to its neighborhoods. Reflecting on the company’s accomplishments, Neate says “In twenty years we’ve never closed a location. So we don’t move as quickly as other people move but we make sure that where we go is going to be built to last and be a significant part of that community for many years.”
Ideally located near TTC St Clair Station and 512 Streetcars. JJ Bean St Clair will open on Monday October 31st, 2016 with regular hours: weekdays 6:00am-8:00pm and weekends 7:00am-8:00pm.
Established in 1996 by John Neate, JJ Bean Coffee Roasters exists to honour people through great coffee, service, food, and spaces. The Neate family has been roasting coffee for four generations. Family-operated to this day, JJ Bean now has 18 locations in Vancouver and three in Toronto.
For more information, please visit:
@jjbeancoffee on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
WIN A $15 JJ BEAN ST. CLAIR GIFT CARD
Like, share, and tag your friends to this image on our Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram for a chance to win 1 of 3 $15 JJ Bean Gift Cards! Winners to be announced Wednesday, November 2nd at 8:00PM!
