Beaver Rock is ready to roll on its expansion plans.
The Barrie-based coffee roastery has announced that it will open a café at 91 Dunlop St. E., the downtown space formerly occupied by Casa Cappuccino. The landlord is currently doing an interior renovation of the site, and while the opening date is “fluid,” Beaver Rock president Dan Saso hopes to swing open the doors to customers by Oct. 1.
“It’s very exciting times, for sure,” he said. “Part of our strategic plan has always (involved) more stores and cafés. We want to offer unique things. People love what we do. We’re getting our brand in front of people in a bigger way. You’re not going to miss it on that corner. We can offer a lot more of our own products, but now we want to tie in food — light breakfast, light lunches.”
Casa Cappuccino, located beside Meridian Place and Memorial Square, was a staple of the downtown for years, serving a variety of caffeinated beverages, as well as soups, sandwiches and baked goods.
Saso said the last Casa Cappuccino owner purchased that business just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“I’ve looked at a lot of places; they never really fit the criteria,” he said, noting that the ample amount of ambient light at the store was essential to Beaver Rock’s decision to expand there. “This place came up suddenly. The poor guy bought it just before COVID and couldn’t manage that.”
Other plans for the location include the installation of a large outdoor patio next year, and eventually obtaining a liquor licence to host corporate parties and private functions.
“I love downtown Barrie,” Saso said. “I always saw it as viable, but it had to be the right location. We’re a local company, family-run. The city wants local businesses downtown. By us being downtown, we’ll be able to bring some vitality back. It’s a beautiful location.”
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