When I had the idea to write a blog, I various thoughts on what I would write about. I had recently retired from my full time work and wanted to have a way to keep the creative juices flowing. Two topics that I thought I would write about were independant coffee shops and of course - pizza. Not long after starting the blog something called COVID came along and with the world (or Toronto) shutting down, I clearly didn’t get out there to do that. I also couldn’t keep up any reasonable schedule to write because as you can see, it became very hit and miss. Lately, I have been writing more often and I hope to keep it up.

Anyways, here I am with a new post on a fantastic coffee shop called Balzac’s. I guess you can’t really call them “independent” anymore - can you? It really depends on what that definition is - is it a single store offering? Is it simply not part of a “large” multi-store chain like Starbucks, Tim Hortons or Second Cup?

What makes a good coffee shop? Obviously, the coffee is quite important. If you google coffee culture you can fine a number of articles explaining what it is….

“Throughout the years, coffee shops and cafés alike have become so much more than just a place to acquire a delicious brew. Since the first coffee shops were established, they have been used as social places to congregate and meeting points for the public. Alongside the development of coffee shops came the ‘coffee culture’, a set of traditions and rules regarding the way cafes are used, and the way these delicious brews are enjoyed.

Coffee shops are everywhere, not just on our city’s high streets, but globally beloved. They offer an atmosphere that is warm and inviting, with a focus on the ambiance and aesthetic of the space as well as the services they offer, with some cafes housing multiple functions beyond the brew. Therefore, the question stands: how are coffee shops today tapping into creating new spaces that are interesting and bring new life to the beloved culture?

Cafes are desirable members of the community and should cultivate that image. It can make each café distinct and further differentiated from the chains.

A favorite local cafe should be a comfortable and inviting place to take a moment for oneself or visit with friends. To further entrench a sense of community, cafes should embrace neighborhood activities. Perhaps host local musician nights, book clubs, or catering small local events. “

With décor, a significant factor in creating a cozy and inviting environment, cafes can make even this an extension of the community by showcasing local artists on the walls or local builders and designers with custom furniture pieces.

Having a community posting board both physically in-store, but also online can continue that connection to your digital presence. Use your website and social media channels to highlight your community involvement, in addition to your fantastic menu. Let loyal and potential guests know how you support the local town and its people.I think that Balzac’s is probably a bit of a hybrid as they have about 16 locations now - primarily based in Toronto.

It all began in the small town of Stratford, Ontario back in 1996. Each store stands out on it’s own with beautiful tiles floors, marble counter’s, brick walls - you feel like your in a cafe in a hidden neighbourhood of Paris.

They have expanded fairly recently to a wholesale business providing coffee beans to various retailers in Canada - based on an increasing demand for such a product.

I have been to a few locations in Toronto - the Distillery location is one of my earliest experiences and still is a favourite. I have also visited the location in Liberty Village. I am writing this from a comfortable seat at their Powerhouse location which is an emerging area of the west part of Toronto. About 200 metres west of Lansdowne, just south of Davenport, we are surrounded by some infill condo’s and low rise reclaimed factories. I rode my bike around the area and it’s sort of interesting. It has some nice townhomes which are probably great buys for first time buyers - although, I sure they are still very expensive.

They have a large selection of drinks, iced products and espresso coffee’s. I went with my tried and true — a cafe latte and selected from the baked goods selection a cheese scone (warmed up of course). They were both very good and my only negative is that it would be better if there were more items available to eat. They primarily have mostly “sweets” such as cookies and bars of various sorts.

This location has a small outdoor patio and about 8 small tables and long table. The tables are perfect to work from and as I sit here writing, there are a few table occupied with people hitting the keyboards. They also offer free WIFI - which is a bonus. I would guess this is one of their less busy locations which for me is a plus.