When it comes to coffee in the Beach, it’s all about community and connection

By JULIA SAWICKI

For Beach coffee connoisseurs, there’s no shortage of choices along Queen Street East. With exciting new shops opening their doors and long-standing, beloved spots continuing to serve as morning havens, the street has become known for its variety of cafes and bakeries, offering an atmosphere and a treat for almost every taste.

From new businesses finding their footing to long-established cafes continuing to welcome generations of customers, coffee shops along Queen Street East have become more than just places to grab a morning drink. They’ve become daily rituals, gathering spots and small pieces of the neighbourhood’s identity.

ESPRO Coffee Bar (2102 Queen St. E.) and Judy’s Beach Café (2188 Queen St. E.) are among the newer coffee shops, both hitting their one-year mark this summer. Despite their short time in the Beach, they have already left a sizable impact on the neighbourhood, building up loyal local regulars and visitors.

Judy’s warm atmosphere and cozy feel has been bringing in residents since it first opened its doors in August of last year. The fresh treats and coffee are delicious additions to the neighbourhood, but what really solidified Judy’s impact was the mission behind it.

Opened by Donna Paterson and Leslie Grant, the cafe runs as a charity and non-profit enterprise, providing job training and employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The name came from Paterson’s little sister, Judy, who was born with Down syndrome. After her passing in 2024, Paterson and Leslie began their journey, turning a dream into a place to honour Judy and serve others.

“What a wonderful year,” said Grant. “I don’t think I can remember life before Judy’s.”

“The community has been so responsive and you know, I think as a non-profit it’s been easy for the community to embrace it and support it, and they’ve been so taken with our mission” she added.

“We have so many regular customers that come in; some every day,” said Paterson. “It’s been really, really lovely.”

For the two of them, the most gratifying part has been seeing their baristas and cafe assistants gaining everyday skills and confidence within the job.

“I’ve been looking around at our staff, and see so many of the same people we’ve hired from the beginning,” said Paterson.

“Watching them grow has probably been the biggest reward for all of us,” Grant said.

With so many coffee shops in the area, Patterson and Grant were both nervous opening their doors that first day. They both came into the industry with a background in education, and no experience in business. But the fear was quickly replaced with gratitude and excitement as the community came to support them, turning Judy’s into a Beach staple.

The Willow Cafe (2256 Queen St. E.) has also had an exciting few months. Having taken over The Haven earlier this summer, The Willow has kept the corner busy, serving desserts and coffee while also drawing on owner Marianne Stacey’s background in interior design. The cafe has incorporated home goods into its repertoire, while also hosting special events and seminars.

“I, of course, am big on women’s leadership and empowerment,” explained Stacey. “So we’re doing things related to that. Dog behaviourists will be coming, we’ve got brain health and menopause sessions.”

Dan Thompson, who works at the Willow, thinks that Queen Street East coffee shops do so well because every place is unique.

“They are very different spots, just like we are. We have something different to offer than Bud’s or the Remarkable Bean, and I think that in a community like this, people respect that,” he said.

“This is a niche area as well, because you have some established local people, so we’re finding that we’re building our own community from that, which is fun,” added Stacey.

“In this section of the Beaches too, you have a bit more of a mix of people, more of a neighbourhood,” said Thompson. “Even me, who hasn’t been here that long, I’m catching up to the people who live in the neighbourhood, and I literally live the next block over. So I’m seeing my neighbours, which is really funny, because I basically only know them from their dogs. Now I know the humans, which is good.”

While newer coffee shops are exciting and celebrated, they operate alongside others that are well known and have been loved by local residents for years.

Bud’s Coffee has been in the Beach for 12 years, with their current location on 1966½ Queen St. E. open for eight. Bud’s was opened by owners Ken Galbraith and Sarah Griffiths. The name is an homage to Galbraith’s grandfather, “Bud.”

In a statement from their website, it’s clear that community comes first at Bud’s. “The space had to have a place for kids and really be an extension of our home, family and friends. Our staff are our family and our customers are our friends.”

Head Manager Jessica Young agreed.

“Community is really important. I think especially after COVID, people come to coffee shops for a sense of being with people, even if you’re not socializing,” said Young. “I think small independent coffee shops are so important to the community and bringing people together that you’d never meet otherwise.”

“I think Bud’s does that specifically,” she added. “The community building. I would say 75 per cent of our customers are regulars, and I could name their drinks off the top of my head.”

Remarkable Bean (2242 Queen St. E.) is a coffee shop giant on the Beach, operating since 1994 as a family-run business.

It sets itself apart by roasting its own coffee beans and selling its own tea on site. The cozy spot offers the perfect place to drop in, meet friends, or just enjoy a treat.

Owner Susan Fowler summed up Remarkable Beans’ success in one word: “Community.”

“People come in and talk, and they meet people,” said Fowler. “They met someone, and got married. It’s the people. Kids whose grandmothers lived in a different province, and I became their unofficial grandmother. They give me Christmas cards, or they draw pictures. It was nice, it’s a fulfilling community.”

Today the Remarkable Bean is run primarily by Fowler’s children, Marianne, Micah and George Fowler, and it continues to flourish.

A sense of community is the thread connecting all of these coffee shops and cafes (and there are certainly more wonderful coffee shops in the Beach than just the ones mentioned in this story), regardless of how long they’ve been in the Beach. As new cafes continue to open alongside the institutions, Beach coffee culture continues growing.