For some, drinking coffee is just a means to an end. Getting the energy to go about their day is all they utilize the beverage for. But for the enthusiasts, the opening of a new espresso bar that also houses a sandwich shop in the back has certain gravitas surrounding it.
Housecoat Coffee is a concept born and raised in the area it will serve. The brainchild of Holly McNarland and Chad Hunt — both veterans of the music/TV/film industry — the latest espresso bar is a concept that has been years in the making. With Masa Deli in the back slinging delicious sandwiches and other lunch items, this store located at 985 Dovercourt Road will surely become a neighbourhood gem.
McNarland and Hunt have always been into coffee and espresso on a small scale — namely at home. And so naturally, they threw around the idea of opening up a coffee shop in their neighbourhood. Nothing big and fancy to make a "bunch of money," but rather a serviceable store that caters to the neighbourhood and fills in a void they observed.
While many bakeries and coffee shops have opened in the area, none have stuck around for long. The couple has taken it upon themselves to be the joint they wish existed in the neighbourhood.
"We've been in the neighbourhood for 12 years, and that little corner has just been begging for something cool to go in," McNarland said. "It's something the neighbourhood needs, and we love our neighbours. And I think it'd be super fun."
While looking for a location to set up shop, Hunt and McNarland spoke to many locals about potential lease agreements, but none panned out. The story of how they finally procured a space, however, is quite serendipitous.
While walking with their son, who works at Gold Standard in Roncesvalles, the trio walked past the building that now houses Housecoat. They came across his boss, Reza Azucena, part owner of Gold Standard, and it turned out that his girlfriend and her mother owned the building where McNarland and Hunt wanted to put their coffee shop.
After pitching their ideas to the building owners and Azucena, a collaboration swiftly brewed between the two parties.
And that's how Houscoat Coffee x Masa Deli was born.
While housed under one roof, the two businesses will be operated separately. The front will be your destination for delicious coffee and pastries. Further down, beyond a Dutch door, the flavourful sandwiches will be housed.
This concept on Dovercourt is truly a family-operated business. While McNarland and Hunt will run Housecoat with the help of their daughter, their son will be working with Azucena at Masa Deli in the back. It will truly be a local, neighbourhood-oriented joint, just as the owners envisioned.
Housecoat will start simple with its beverage selection, offering all kinds of coffee staples like cortados, cappuccinos and lattes. Through working with The Honest Leaf, the shop will also have a great selection of teas. McNarland, who is Red River Métis, is also working on a drink she's calling a Prairie Fog. Akin to a London Fog, it will aim to champion her heritage and have more of a sweetgrass vibe, a plant sacred to her culture.
Even though the main focus is on providing excellent coffee, the shop will have French pastries from La Bomboche, and McNarland is also on the search for someone to make bannock for her — which is a flatbread of sorts also part of her Métis heritage.
"We're not food people. We never wanted to run a food kitchen. We just want to focus on really awesome coffee," Hunt said. "But it's nice, because within the same building, if somebody wants a hot sandwich, they can get something more substantial. And that's Reza's domain, and where he's comfortable and likes to be. So I think that a great collaboration."
Speaking of Reza's domain, Masa Deli will be your go-to spot for wonderfully-crafted breakfast sandwiches, tortas and even a decadent ice cream sandwich. With options like sausage and egg breakfast sandwiches; an albondigas sub, and even a salad bowl, everyone can find something of their liking at the joint.
The name "Housecoat" came up as a suggestion when McNarland and Hunt considered going into the roasting business. After holding a focus group with their friends and family, "housecoat" (or "robe," if you're outside of Canada) came up as the overwhelming favourite. So when they finally got serious about opening the coffee shop, they already had the name on lock — especially due to what it signifies.
"It just speaks to coziness and mornings and coffee," Hunt said. "You know, it just seems like a good fit."
The interiors will house beautiful Métis-inspired artwork and shelving that will become home to other artifacts near and dear to the owners and driven by the neighbourhood. Also potentially present on the retail wall will be featured brews from Housecoat's partner Hale Coffee, LOOP juices and sparkling water blends from Barbet, amongst other things.
Opening up a new venture, especially after spending so long in a completely different industry can be a daunting task. But it's one that McNarland and Hunt are embracing with a strong will and positive attitude.
"This is one of the scariest things and beautiful things. We're both almost 50, so this is something that we're taking on, you know, pushing 50. You're never too old to try something new," McNarland said. "We love coffee. We love our neighbours. So that's [age] something that can hold you back. And I'll tell you right now, it's scary going into something like this at this age. But you got to just jump in sometimes. I think it's gonna be really awesome."
Be it their age, this new project at hand, a combination of the two or something else entirely, the owners' main focus will always remain on two things: serving great coffee and becoming THE neighbourhood spot.
"Our main goal is just to do a simple menu really well and have our customers, the people from our community, all feel super welcome. That's really the main reason we're excited about it," Hunt said. "We love our neighbours and our neighbourhood, and so we're hoping it'll be a place where people can walk in and feel like they're part of something special."
There might be changes down the road with updates to the menu and such. But the way things stand, we are certain of Housecoat Coffee and Masa Deli's success in this new venture.
Housecoat Coffee x Masa Deli is set to open its doors on Saturday at 985 Dovercourt Lane.
