Industry veterans Annette Rawlinson (C, Au Petit Chavignol) and Tina Fineza (Flying Tiger, Les Faux Bourgeois, La Taqueria) are joining consultancy forces for the first time to open The Commune Cafe on the main floor on the new building that welcomed the US Olympic Committee during the Games (1002 Seymour at Nelson).

Chef Fineza has developed an all day menu of 24 items (clever braises, paninis, things that don’t require a hood vent), while Rawlinson has put together a tidy but short list of wines and beers.

Owners Ali and Amir Samei are from the corporate world. Fineza tells me they’re passionate about food and wine, and opening something along these lines has long been a dream of theirs.

There will be 26 seats inside (including a large communal table) and another 24 on a streetside patio. Award-winning design maestros Rob Edmonds and David Nicolay of Evoke are in charge of the look and branding.

Opening day is slated for the first week of July.