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Neate Donuts, a project developed alongside JJ Bean’s coffee operations, has opened its first standalone location at Oceanic Plaza (1066 W Hastings Street). The downtown flagship shop reconnects with the Neate family’s original pairing of coffee and donuts, dating back to the 1940s.

The Neate family has long been a part of Vancouver’s coffee history. Frank (“Gumpy”) Neate began roasting coffee in 1945 after emigrating from Wales, while his wife, Ella (“Granny”) Neate, made donuts. The couple sold their products across the city by bicycle, building the foundation of what would eventually become JJ Bean. Over time, as the company grew and expanded its focus on coffee, the donut side of the business faded…until now.

Last week I met with John Neate (owner of JJ Bean) at the space to have a look around and hear about how this new project was less a throwback, and more of a continuation – one that’s been a long time coming.

A few years ago, Neate approached JJ Bakery Leader Julie Trottier with a challenge: he wanted to add donuts into their operations. The way Neate explains it, Trottier was initially skeptical, but he convinced her to do some R&D with him and for the next two years, the pair met every Thursday to eat and talk donuts. Together (along with Lauren Yu, who would become their Donut Program leader) they visited their favourite shops in the city, breaking down what worked (and what didn’t) across three key categories: cake, glazed, and filled. Out of all the spots they visited, they came to the conclusion that nobody in town was nailing all three. Neate really wanted Trottier to explore the idea of making donuts from scratch; however, unlike the croissants and bread she was familiar with, donuts turned out to be a whole different beast. Nevertheless, the Bakery Leader leaned into it, starting with the fundamentals: the dough. The way Neate explains it, Trottier aimed to hit the gold standard set by Vancouver favourite Lee’s Donuts for a classic glazed donut. The first results didn’t meet her standards, but she kept at it, exploring different options until they landed on a base they felt proud of. Only then did they move on to fillings, where they really started to have fun.

Though JJ Bean cafés have offered donuts alongside their coffee at select locations since 2023 (they are up to 15/23 locations today), the lineup at Neate Donuts will be far more substantial. There will be 12 donuts available daily, spanning familiar comforts and more experimental creations. The menu includes classics like Glazed, Chocolate Glazed, Apple Fritter, Boston Cream, Raspberry Jelly, and a gluten-free Triple Chocolate Cake donut, along with seasonal flavours such as Lavender Earl Grey, Dubai Chocolate, and Banana Cream Pie. Also available in limited quantities is the “Benny & The Donut”, a savoury malasada filled with poached egg, smoked meat, and hollandaise. And of course coffee remains an important part of the equation: top-tier JJ Bean coffee brewed with the same attention to craft that runs through everything the Neate family has built.

John Neate’s daughter, Niki Schulz (née Neate) of Nicole Maree Design, came on board to create an aesthetic to match the ambition; one that’s both distinct from JJ Bean’s signature minimalist look, yet also “on brand” with an inviting, slightly whimsical but sophisticated look. The result is a bright, stylish space that feels both elegant and approachable.

Soft, curved counters tiled in muted rose anchor the room, set against pale oak paneling, textured concrete floors, bold tropical wallpaper, and sleek brass accents. Globe-like pendant lights overhead add a playful polish. There’s counter seating, Scandinavian-style tables and chairs, and a small lounge nook tucked into the corner closest to the entry. This alcove may not end up being functional to the flow of the space, but for the moment, it sure makes a nice place to linger for a coffee break.

Neate Donuts softly opened doors this week with a Grand Opening planned for Monday, May 5th. To celebrate, they will be offering a special promotion from Monday to Thursday (May 5-8th) where you can snag six donuts for $15, or twelve donuts for $24.

Hours are 7am to 3pm on weekdays; 8am to 3pm on weekends and holidays.

Neate Donuts (Oceanic Plaza)

Neighbourhood: Downtown

1066 W Hastings St.

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