Slo Coffee, the Fraserhood café built on the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, is getting ready for its second act. Co-owners Colin Lai and Paul Irwin, along with general manager Adam Gold, have signed the lease for a new downtown location inside Pacific Centre. Renovations on the 609 Granville Street cafe are set to begin in the coming weeks, with an opening planned for later this Fall.

The expansion comes a little over a year after the team launched their vision of slowing down in a city that often feels like it’s running at double speed. At their Fraser Street flagship, that vision took the form of cherrywood booths, ceramic mugs, and a menu that encourages lingering. Downtown, the challenge shifts to how to bring a sanctuary of calm into the middle of a shopping mall.

“Downtown felt like the natural next step for Slo,” says Irwin. “It’s the heart of the city – a place where people are constantly on the move, whether they’re working, shopping, or visiting Vancouver. We saw an opportunity to create something that’s often missing in that busy environment: a sanctuary for being present.” He continues: “Our goal is to create a space where people can pause, connect, and recharge amid the fast-paced energy of downtown, while making specialty coffee feel inviting and accessible to everyone. Whether it’s a quick break from the office, a shopper taking a moment to reset, or a visitor exploring the city, Slo offers a welcoming space to pause, recharge, and feel grounded, even if only for a few minutes.”

The new space will be slightly larger than the Fraser Street one (by a few hundred feet), but it won’t have a typical mall feel. As Irwin explains: “We’re exploring some exciting ideas to make the layout both functional and inviting, with interesting seating zones that balance communal connection / business meetings and moments of quiet.” Clearly, that balance is more than just a design flourish — it’s a deliberate choice reflecting their core philosophy, while also adapting to the realities of a downtown flow. These guys recognize that in a mall setting, stillness doesn’t happen by accident; it has to be carved out — something Slo has already proven they can deliver on.

Menu-wise, the Pacific Centre café will keep Slo’s signature matchas, pour-overs, and house-made syrups, while adding grab-and-go options for workers and shoppers on the move. Expect pastries and light food from their existing bakery partners, along with possible new collaborations as the team responds to downtown demand. “Our goal is to expand thoughtfully while staying true to the quality and care that define Slo,” says Gold.

If the Fraser Street cafe gave Vancouver a neighbourhood destination, then the Pacific Centre project is making a statement: that slowing down isn’t just for residential neighbourhoods. It can happen in the middle of a mall, surrounded by escalators, food courts and storefronts — so long as someone is willing to build that ‘pause’ into the architecture.

The Slo team is aiming to open their downtown location in late Fall 2025. Stay tuned to Scout for progress reports, and follow Slo on Instagram here for the latest news.

Slo Coffee (Downtown)

Neighbourhood: Downtown

609 Granville St.

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