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Annalena Team Launching New ‘Their There’ Cafe Concept in Kitsilano This Summer

Chef Mike Robbins and Jeffrey Parr in Annalena on May 15, 2018 | Photo: Scout Magazine

AnnaLena owners Jeffrey Parr and Mike Robbins took possession of the old Mission space at 2042 West 4th Avenue yesterday with the goal of turning the 2,300 sqft space into a new cafe called Their There.

Mission, which closed this past weekend after a three year run at the address, took over from the short-lived August Jack in the Spring of 2015, building up a highly respected locavore brand in the process with chef Curtis Luk ruling the kitchen, frontman Curtis MacLeod looking after service and Marc Smolinski elevating the bar. These are some supplied images of the restaurant in its fleeting prime:

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  • The Velveteen Rabbit
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  • Applegreen's Gin Old Fashioned
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With keys in hand, Parr and Robbins are getting to work on Their There’s interior immediately. I know Robbins likes to do everything himself design-wise (twas thus at Annalena), so expect the look/concept to be a little idiosyncratic/different from that of the typical “third wave” cafe. From the little that I’ve been told to date, it sounds like they’re aiming to put in some 30 seats (two-tops, benches, stools) anchored by a communal table. Much of the construction has already been done off site.

Mission under construction in early June, 2015 | Photo: Scout Magazine

The food and drink programs should prove top drawer. Parr just returned from a research trip to Portland and is looking at stocking beans from Heart Coffee Roasters, while recent Annalena hire Lucian Kirby (formerly Nelson The Seagull, Hawksworth, Buca) will oversee breads, pastries, sandwiches and so on. We’ll have more on the concept and its construction as it is revealed.

Opening day for Their There is being set for the beginning of July.

Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
2042 West 4th Ave.

There are 3 comments

  1. Are they sure about Their There? It doesn’t really mean anything. They’re There would make a lot more sense.

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