There’s a new cafe slated for the brand new building at 868 East Hastings in Strathcona (opposite Les Amis du Fromage). Long-time friends and first-time business owners Anna McMillan, Rheanna Miller and Kirsten Kennedy took possession of the raw space back on February 1st. It is now in the midst of being transformed into The Garden.

The cafe will seat between 16 and 25 people; the number depends on what the city allows them. The beans, I’m told, will be from Agro Coffee Roasters (located just a couple of blocks away on Clark Drive) and the baking (cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, cupcakes) will be done in house, supplemented by loaves from Fife. The food program will also include charcuterie and cheese plates, various toasts and special salads.

The Garden won’t, however, won’t resemble a typical cafe. It will also have a retail component offering plants, flowers, housewares, ceramics, linens, hard-to-find specialty treats (Danish licorice, quality candies, etc.) and, yes, even alcohol for sale. They’re aiming to pour beer, wine, cider and possibly even a cocktail or two.

It’s early days yet, so we’ll have a lot more in the way of detail once things get nailed down and the prospective opening day of August 15th approaches. In the meantime, take a look at what I saw on my walkthrough yesterday when I began to hope it might be something along the lines of Le Marche St. George. I live/work just around the corner from here, so my fingers are well crossed for something good!

The Garden Strathcona

Neighbourhood: Strathcona

868 East Hastings St.

604-255-2299

WEBSITE