Weston's Coolest Coffee Shop is Your New Neighbourhood Hangout
It is no secret that the Weston neighbourhood of Toronto is experiencing a resurgence. With the UP Express giving residents access to Pearson International Airport in 11 minutes and Union Station in the heart of downtown in 14 minutes, Weston is the perfect neighbourhood for those looking for quick access to downtown while experiencing the space and amenities of a more suburban area. With the addition of the state of the art facilities such as Artscape Weston Common and the second location of the popular Black Cat Espresso Bar, it is clear that Weston has increasingly more to offer. HOME sat down with Black Cat Espresso Bar Owner Justin to discuss why he feels Weston is one of Toronto's best-kept secrets.
What Is So Attractive About Weston?
Weston is one of the oldest business districts in Toronto. Justin, the owner of Black Cat Espresso Bar, had never ventured to the neighbourhood before looking for a space to call his businesses second home. He was automatically impressed by the history, redevelopment opportunities, and bones of the neighbourhood. Streets lined with towering blue spruce trees, historical homes, and tons of access to nature give Weston the charming neighbourhood vibe while still providing easy access to downtown, Pearson Airport, Artscape Weston, and much more.
Justin looked at a lot of places before he decided to call Weston home. As he put it, “I kind of look at things from the point of view like developers and real estate people would, you look into the future, and I just saw the potential. A neighbourhood is always in one of three states. It's either on the way up, leveled out or on the way down. That's kind of the cycle. So I thought, ‘It’s got to be coming up’.”
The development seen in the Weston neighbourhood is a sign of the times. The combination of the historical neighbourhood vibes with the addition of modern conveniences make Weston the ideal place to call home. A transit hub on both the UP Express and GO Transit, the introduction of modern infrastructure, and millennial-focused spaces such as Artscape Weston Commons, and West 22 are all indications that Weston is a neighbourhood on the rise.
Bringing Community Together During Covid-19
Covid-19 has brought a lot of uncertainty for many business owners. Justin turned back to his musical roots during this time and decided that he was ready to facilitate a safe space that could bring families together. In addition to a secluded and quiet courtyard that is perfect for socially distanced coffees and gourmet sandwiches (the breakfast sandwich is next level and made fresh daily), Justin has also introduced some Covid friendly live music. His goal is to create a hub for the community to come together and enjoy themselves, which is different than his first location on College Street downtown.
“Our first location on College Street, I didn’t have the desire to create a community. There are a million places where the community is left, right, and center. And [In Weston] I thought, people need somewhere to go, where it’s safe, where families can kick around here completely safe… there is definitely more of a hope for a community hub for this store than there was for the first store. And I think the neighbourhood really needs something like that.” Jazz, blues, folk, and other musical talents will be featured behind a transparent screen to provide a fun space for the neighbourhood to come together. “Bottom line, there were kids dancing, and families enjoying their life, which is not so easy to do these days”.
More Great Things To Come
With increasing development opportunities, public transportation, and new and exciting community hubs like Black Cat Espresso Bar, the Weston neighbourhood is showing no signs of slowing down. Next time you are in the area, grab a specialty coffee, pastry, or sandwich, snag a seat in the ultra-comfy sitting area equipped with lots of charging spaces and tons of plants and prepare to find your new favourite coffee shop in Weston. You can check out Black Cat Espresso Bar on Instagram and Facebook to get yourself in the mood for one of their mouthwatering offers and extra hip vibe, all at extremely reasonable prices. Starbucks who?
