Burke Mountain residents have another option for their morning cup of joe this Fall, with the opening of a brand new neighbourhood hub. This new gathering place is located at the heart of Coquitlam’s northeast at 3537 Princeton Ave. This City facility provides a space to come together, socialize and learn about the future Burke Mountain Village, the planned social and commercial hub of the neighbourhood which is anticipated to feature approximately 120,000 square feet of retail as well as the state-of-the-art community centre, public plaza and neighbourhood park.
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 four interactive displays to allow users to navigate the amenities on Burke Mountain and explore the future Burke Mountain Village in both 3D and augmented reality.
Anchoring the Discovery Centre is the highly anticipated Ibex Café + Kitchen – the first café to open in Northeast Coquitlam – featuring an assortment of freshly baked goods, sandwiches, specialty coffee, wine and beer. 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 which opened on October 15, 2022.
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.”
