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:

http://www.jjbeancoffee.com 

@jjbeancoffee on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

WIN A $15 JJ BEAN ST. CLAIR GIFT CARD

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Toronto has recently become obsessed with the small plates movement, with tapas, antipasti, mezze, and appetizers becoming more and more popular on local menus. There’s something about it that adds a level of sophistication that elevates the traditional dinner experience. For Yonge + St. Clair, hidden in a little courtyard just north of the intersection, sits Cava, which has been serving Spanish Tapas to midtowners long before the rest of city became obsessed. “We’re one the first restaurants in the wave of modern Spanish in the city,” explains Cava head chef and owner Doug Penfold, who just celebrated a decade in business, in the neighbourhood earlier this year.

Doug has more than 27 years professional experience in the food industry and has been with Cava since the beginning, becoming the restaurant’s head chef and owner in 2014. We sat down with him this week to talk Cava and life at Yonge + St. Clair.

Cava is an easy-to-miss restaurant tucked away in the courtyard at 1560 Yonge, and even though they’ve been serving the area for as long as they have, Cava is still considered a hidden gem by many.

“The neighbourhood has been extremely supportive of us,” Doug shares, “You don’t get to ten years without the neighbourhood wanting you to be here, and we’re very thankful for that.”

Doug employs a “nose-to-tail” sensibility in the dishes Cava creates, focusing largely on Spanish cuisine, with flavours and dishes from other Latin countries playing a large roll in the restaurant’s food.

“Spain’s food culture is that of sharing and we’ve brought that to Cava – it’s a large menu that’s meant to be shared,” explains Doug, “typically we’ll suggest a tour of things anywhere from four to six dishes depending on how you and the rest of your table is feeling.”

The frequently changing menu begins with small plates of Spanish Croquettes with a Caper-Sultana Sauce ($4.00) to various Pincho’s ($4.50 to $9.50).

Cava’s Fried Japanese Eggplant ($15.00) has a crisp outer layer gives way to a soft core of eggplant. Sitting atop tangy tomatillo sauce and fresh cheese, the dish is brought into focus with a sweet drizzle of honey and the smoky/saline complement of Japanese bonito flakes.

‎Supple cubes of skewered venison leg are given a flash-sear atop the hot plancha. Marinated in achiote, roasted garlic, and orange juice, the delicate meat is rested upon earthy sautéed red cabbage and is available for $17.00.

Large pieces of butter-basted sweetbreads sit with slightly bitter shredded radicchio, slivers of poblano‎ chilis, and pieces of crunchy walnut. Cava’s Veal Sweetbread ($26.00) is lifted by a zippy yet subtle walnut vinaigrette.

Finally, Cava’s Cider-broiled Sablefish ($30.00) is marinated in miso and apple cider, and the moist fish is broiled and complemented by nutty Italian black rice, and delicately wilted escarole.

“Cava is very much a progressive kind of dinner when compared to the traditional meal of an appetizer, main course, and dessert.”

Along with their extensive menu, Cava also offers over 40 wines by the glass and over 200 different bottles to aide in your culinary experience.

In regards to the Yonge + St. Clair community, Doug has been very thankful. “The neighbourhood has been fantastic and the people living here are great. This community deserves to see more quality services and businesses come back into the neighbourhood.”

This summer Cava began having Sunday brunch as a thank you to the community. “We’re just trying to do good things for the Yonge + St. Clair neighbourhood because they’ve been so good to us.”

“With all the development, and what the Westons and Slate are doing, there’s a lot of room for growth and quality to come to the area.”

“It’s been a lot of fun – ten years later and we’re still very passionate, we’re still pushing, we’re still well known in the city.” Along with Cava, Doug has a second restaurant in Yorkville called Chabrol, and is “slowly working on some other projects.”

“With everything we do, it’s slow and steady. We like to make things that last, things that are quality, and things that matter.”

Cava is open everyday from 5:00PM to 10:00PM.

Images provided by Cava Restaurant

This week the Yonge + St. Clair Blog spoke with John Neate Jr., founder of popular Vancouver-based coffee roasters JJ Bean to talk about his company, the Toronto coffee scene, and new beginnings at Yonge + St. Clair. The Neate family has been roasting coffee for four generations and in 1996 John launched JJ Bean. There are now over 20 unique locations across Vancouver and Toronto.

JJ Bean will be opening their third Toronto location in the lobby of 2 St. Clair West this fall.

Congratulations on opening your second JJ Bean location in the downtown core earlier this month! How are you enjoying the Toronto coffee scene?

The Toronto coffee scene has been fabulous! Toronto has become a second home to me – I’ve been coming here every three to four weeks now for the last year and a half, and have become very familiar with the coffee scene. I’ve met with all the major players and did extensive research before scouting out our new locations here. The JJ Bean at Adelaide and York just opened up August 12th, and it’s been great so far – it’s been a lot busier than expected.

Torontonians really love their coffee, don’t they?

 No kidding – there’s been major changes and growth in the industry. To see what’s happened here over the last few years has been great.

How would you compare the coffee culture in Toronto to Vancouver? What does JJ Bean bring to Toronto coffee culture that it’s currently missing?

In terms of the coffee scene in particular, there are a lot of really great roasters in Toronto. The knowledge of the baristas here is really impressive – it’s nice to see a lot of coffee being made here with manual machines versus automatic. Toronto baristas are getting the coffee right; they’re getting the milk right, and they’re producing great products.

What we see as a big opportunity is that not a lot of Toronto coffee shops are doing their own food. Most shops are getting their baked goods from other places. With JJ Bean, we have a commissary, which prepares all the raw ingredients, but each store is equipped with their own ovens and in-store bakers. We do all of our baking in-house.

The customers love it; there’s nothing better than fresh compared to a muffin made somewhere else, frozen, and reheated.  We’re not seeing anyone really doing that on a multi-location level.

What drew you to establish your third location at Yonge + St. Clair? What do you see in the area?

One of the things that I really look for in a great location is a place that can be busy Monday-Friday, driven by the 9-5 office crowd, but that can also be supported by a neighbourhood community on the weekends. Vancouver has a lot of areas like this, but Toronto is fairly scarce with these locations. There’s a lot of disposable income in the residential areas around this intersection that can support good retail on a 24/7 basis. Yonge + St. Clair seems like it will be a great fit for JJ Bean.

When searching for the next new location – I always try and look for emerging areas: ones with big upside and potential. With what Slate is doing, and what the Weston family is planning, I really believe the Yonge + St. Clair area is going to be totally revitalized in the coming years.

For people that have yet to make it out to one of your Toronto locations, are there any places they can try JJ Bean coffee?

 Absolutely! We have a couple of locations right now serving JJ Bean roasts. 5 Elements at Avenue Road and Davenport serves our coffee, and we’re supplying all the coffee for Dark Horse’s Cold Brew. A large part of our plan in Toronto is to have a thriving wholesale business so this is only the beginning.

When can we expect the Yonge + St. Clair JJ Bean to open?

We’re hoping to open in the first week of October. Originally we planned for an earlier opening, but we’ve seen some delays due to what we‘re doing at that location. The building’s office lobby was recently completely renovated and has impressively high ceilings – we’re actually building a house inside of the space, and while it’s taking a little longer, it looks absolutely fabulous.

Oh wow. That sounds really cool.

 Yeah, we’re really happy with it.

I’m really excited to check out the space when it’s done. What’s your recommended first drink and snack for a JJ Bean newbie like myself?

Well, I personally think that people should have a traditional cappuccino and a butter tart. And if a butter tart is too sweet for your tastes, our croissants are some of the best in Toronto. The muffins we bake are about three times larger than the one’s at Tim Horton’s –  our Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffin is probably our most desired baked good.

Fantastic. Thanks John.

 Thanks so much.