COQUITLAM, B.C., July 27, 2021 – With construction underway on the Burke Mountain Discovery Centre, local residents and visitors can get ready for the first café to open in the area.
Following an extensive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, PGA Hospitality Inc. (PGA) who own and operate Beanery Coffeehouse and Eatery in the Westwood Plateau area, was selected by the City as the operator for the café space.
Familiar Taste, New Name
Beanery Coffeehouse is a family-run and community-focused business that has been in operation since 2017. They are well-known not just for quality coffee and espresso, but also for great-tasting food including sandwiches, flatbreads, desserts and bakery items.
They will be operating the space as IBEX Café + Kitchen – named for the species of wild mountain goat – and because the space is zoned to allow for the sale of alcohol under a food-primary liquor license, they also envision serving local craft beer and wine.
PGA’s vision for the space demonstrates their level of knowledge, experience and commitment and what they plan to bring to Burke Mountain:
“Beanery is both a small café and restaurant under one roof. It is run by minorities, by women, by people from multiple backgrounds and stories, and supported by one strong community. What was then a dream has grown to be a community, a gathering place, a small gem within which culture, cuisine and the comfort of a small town come together. Inspired by the colours and flavours of our natural surroundings, this mountain café offers a carefully crafted balance of local and seasonal flavours. Our hope for Beanery is to always be a place of gathering, of community, and of acceptance.”
The leased café site includes approximately 162 square metres (1,740 square feet) of indoor space and direct access to a 157 sq. m (1,685 sq. ft) shared outdoor patio, with seating and expansive views south toward the Fraser Valley and Pitt River.
Construction is on pace for the space to be open to the public in fall 2021.
Discovery Centre As Future Community Hub
The café is one part of the Burke Mountain Discovery Centre, which will share information about the master-planned community, Burke Mountain Village, and serve as a gathering place for current and future residents, business owners, developers, construction workers and visitors to nearby trails and parks.
About 15,000 people currently live on Burke Mountain and hundreds of townhomes are under construction near the centre’s location. The area’s population is eventually expected to reach 50,000 when fully built out.
The single-storey centre is being designed in the West Coast Modern style with wood, glass and metal elements. It will also include about 145 sq. m (1,556 sq. ft) of presentation and meeting space, four unisex washrooms (two that are fully accessible), a six-spot bike rack and on-site parking for 13 vehicles, including EV charging stations as well as being designed to support food trucks and Coquitlam Public Library’s Library Link truck.
The interior of the Discovery Centre is designed with the objective of being inclusive, welcoming, accessible and engaging including large wall art displays, development maps, and visually engaging pieces including a custom mural of Burke Mountain designed by a local artist, Anja Jane. There will also be two interactive displays to allow users to navigate the amenties on Burke Mountain and explore the future Burke Mountain Village in both 3D and augmented reality.
The building will be a short stroll from the future 16-hectare (39-acre) Burke Mountain Village, with its 2,000 apartments and townhomes, community centre, schools, parks, a public plaza and commercial space, including shops, restaurants and a grocery store.
The video The Peak of Natural Living and other information about the village can be found at www.burkevillage.ca. Information about the Northeast Community Centre, anticipated to be open by 2026 with a variety of programs and uses, is at www.coquitlam.ca/necc.
About Burke Mountain Village
Burke Mountain Village will be a unique regional destination and the social and commercial heart of the growing master-planned community of Burke Mountain in Northeast Coquitlam, currently home to about 15,000 people. The 16-hectare (39-acre) village will feature 11,200 square metres (120,000 square feet) of commercial space – including a grocery store, shops and restaurants – along with a public plaza, community centre, 2,000-plus apartments and townhomes, panoramic views, and easy access to nearby trails, parks and schools, as well as proximity to transit, including SkyTrain and commuter rail. Formerly known as the Partington Creek Neighbourhood Centre, Burke Mountain Village is anticipated to begin development within the next several years. Visit www.burkevillage.ca for information.
Media contact:
Curtis Scott
Manager, Land Development
City of Coquitlam
604-927-6965
cscott@coquitlam.ca