High Park café blends into the ’hood
For Iris Yacob, it’s all about community, coffee lovers or not.
That’s how the owner of Red Bean Espresso and Market likes her small Bloor West coffee and baked goods shop to be seen — as part of the neighbourhood.
“My whole premise is I wanted to live and work in the area,” she says, as a passerby waves hello and gives the thumbs up from outside the store.
“I really like everyone, it’s such a supportive community and it’s beautiful and right next to the park.”
Even with the work that comes with being open seven days a week, Yacob has been finding ways to bind the community within her store, including hosting ‘Mommy and me Mondays’.
“I clear up the back corner, put down mats and toys for kids, so moms can sit down and have a coffee and baked good and get to know other parents,” she said. “It’s bringing together people from different neighbourhoods and different segments of society, and it’s a good way to socialize for the moms.”
So far, the moms seem to like it, Yacob reports.
“I think people like that I go above and beyond for them,” Yacob says. “(And) I like that I can actually sit down with customers and talk to them.”
Previously employed as a project manager who developed marketing strategies for a chain of restaurants, Yacob says it seems this is where she’s always wanted to be.
“I’ve always wanted to do something with food,” she said. “In the back of my mind, I thought it would be a good retirement thing. But then I thought why wait until I’m 65, why not just do it right now?”
Now, three months in, she looks forward to getting up in the morning and coming to work at the Red Bean.
And just what does ‘Red Bean’ mean, anyway?
“Red Bean Espresso is just a name I’ve always had in my head,” she said, adding that it came to her over 10 years ago. “You know when you think ‘When I have a kid one day, I’m going to name him Kyle’, you know what I mean?
“It’s just like that, it just popped into my head one day.”
Red Bean Espresso and Market is located at 2118 Bloor St. West. East of Glendonwynne Road. 647-352-2326.