Coffee Culture brewing in Stayner

Author: Michael Gennings

Date: Dec 11, 2009

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Michael Gennings

Zana Majic, Vanessa Kupch, Ruth Wilson, Roxanne Kerr, Lydia Noordegraaf and Nina Tirman work at Coffee Culture’s new store in Stayner.

STAYNER: There’s a new place to go for a cup of java in Stayner. Coffee Culture on Main Street opened its doors to the public in November. Store opening manager Zana Majic said she and the rest of the staff look forward to meeting customers. “People have been peeking in the windows for weeks now, wondering when we were going to open,” she said in an interview. “There has been a lot of interest and of course we like that.” Coffee Culture Canada Inc., based in Mississauga, is fairly new on the food and beverage scene, but the company is getting a real foothold in Ontario. Its first store opened in July 2006 in Woodstock, Ont. The Stayner location is store number 34. “We like to create places that have a relaxed atmosphere,” Majic said. The Stayner location is just that. Warm and cozy too. Along with comfortable, padded bench seats at tables, there are club chairs situated near a gas fireplace and plasma television. The floors are oak and reclaimed red brick makes up sections of the walls, on which hang abstract art prints. A patio is in the works for next year, on the Brock Street side of the building. Majic said Coffee Culture stores are designed so that customers feel welcome to sit and spend some time. “We aim to be your neighbourhood meeting place,” the company states on its website. Coffee Culture prefers to locate its stores in smaller markets, where upscale cafes aren’t as common, Majic said. The company bought the 2,000-square-foot Stayner location in February. Workers spent roughly eight weeks renovating the space, which once was a grocery store. Coffee Culture likes to situate cafes in old buildings because of the relaxed feeling they allow, Majic said. Once in the door, customers have lots of menu items to choose from. There are five different blends of coffee: a medium roast house blend, a light roast, dark roast, a Swiss water decaf and a medium roast fair trade organic blend. “We grind our own beans on site,” noted Majic. “We have gourmet teas as well – 10 kinds.” And then there’s hot chocolate, white hot chocolate, cappuccino and lattes. For people craving something sweet to eat, there are decadent cakes, waffles, muffins and pastries. Majic said they also have bagels, breakfast bagels with egg, bacon, sausage, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Coffee Culture in Stayner is open Sunday to Wednesday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and from Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Twelve people are employed at the store, a mix of full and part-time workers. The store is corporately managed at the moment but Coffee Culture is looking for franchise operators, Majic said. For more information, call 428-2233.