Nemesis and Kitchen Table Restaurants — two established Vancouver names — are heading east this Spring, anchoring the new TriCity Pavilion project in Coquitlam. To be clear, this is not a franchise rollout; it’s something more grounded: respected operators choosing to not just extend into the suburbs, but to plant roots in them.

So what does that look like? The Nemesis crew will be opening a café with service covering the full arc of coffee-and-pastries to brunch and cocktails. Whereas “Gigi’s by Ask For Luigi“, the new concept from the Kitchen Table group, is bringing its familiar rhythm of fresh pasta, pizza, and easygoing hospitality to a new pocket of the Lower Mainland.

Nemesis 

The Tricity Pavilion location will be Nemesis’ fifth cafe, and the plan is to carry forward everything the brand is known for: thoughtful design, strong coffee, music-forward energy, inventive pastries by Dope Bakehouse, and an all-day brunch menu. The 2,300-square-foot spot will seat 50, as well as housing a dedicated pastry kitchen for Dope to create fresh bakes throughout the day. It’ll also be the second Nemesis location to roll out a cocktail program. New digs and new postal code aside, Nemesis founder Jess Reno says the goal remains the same: building culture through coffee.

Gigi’s by Ask For Luigi

For those already well-acquainted with Ask for Luigi, there will be familiar notes at Gigi’s; but it moves at its own pace. The food is grounded in tradition, but the identity is its own. The name Gigi’s is a nod to Kitchen Table’s roots. It’s named after Nonno Gigi, the grandfather of two brothers who spent their childhood summers on his farm in northern Italy — experiences that shaped how they think about food, memory, and generosity. Those visits were full of small rituals: mornings in the vineyard, afternoons picking fruit, and long dinners with pasta, prosciutto, and wine from the cellar. Gigi’s reflects that rhythm through its meals made with care, shaped by repetition, and meant to bring people together.

Opening in one of the Lower Mainland’s growing neighbourhoods just outside the city, Gigi’s feels like a natural fit. As more people settle into these expanding communities, the need for thoughtful places is growing, including restaurants built with care, not spectacle. Gigi’s answers that with cooking that’s steady, service that’s intentional, and a space that feels rooted, not rushed. It’s not chasing trends; it’s holding onto what matters.

While a move like this used to feel like an exception, lately, it’s looking a lot less like a detour and more like the next logical move. From an urban planning perspective, it tracks. The old equation of ‘more foot traffic equals better business’ has shifted. Suburban neighbourhoods have grown up and fleshed out. There’s density, there’s demand, and there’s easier zoning to work with. People aren’t just passing through these areas anymore; they’re staying put, raising kids, working from home, and wondering why they still have to drive 40 minutes for a good plate of pasta.