Cafes
Roncy's Bean
Roncy's Bean is not simply a new spot from which to grab a latte in Roncesvalles Village, but also a sort of mini-triumph for some of the people in the community. The corner cafe at Roncesvalles and Neepawa avenues occupies the former home of a not-so-welcome Second Cup, which seemed to stick out from the independently-owned Polish shops, boutique gift stores, hair salons, and other mom and pop's. Of course, there was a Facebook campaign to boycott the chain cafe, as well as plenty of letters delivered to City Hall in its regard. For whatever reason, the Second Cup did shut down a while back and in its stead is Roncy's Bean.
The new shop finally took the paper off its windows this past Thursday, and the opening couldn't come soon enough says manager Tony. "People kept coming in during construction and we'd have to say, 'No, sorry we're not open yet!'" he says. "And even still, people were knocking on the windows to see when we would be open."
Tony tells me that the cafe's owner, Dan Lajeunesse, is a local real estate agent who just couldn't pass up on the great location. "I said to him, 'Dan, you've just got to have it.'" Tony says he and Dan are no strangers to cafe culture and wanted to create a space for everyone.
I suppose I've spent too much time in the shrouded West Queen West cafes with refurbished vintage furniture and Noam Chomsky books on the shelves, because I'm a little surprised to see booth seating and a flat-screen playing CP24 in the back section of Roncy's Bean. But those features do cater to wider markets, and I can see how moms on -the-go might appreciate a glimpse at the headlines as they pick up their morning coffees.
Roncy's Bean offers a fair assortment of baked goods (from "local suppliers," says Tony), about a dozen loose leaf tea varieties ($2.25), fresh-pressed orange juice ($2.59), and coffee drinks made using Reunion Island beans. The cafe also makes its own gelato ($3.49/$4.39/$5.00), which, now, is limited to about seven flavours (tiramisu, hazelnut, vanilla, etc.), but will grow to 20 or more in the springtime, when the side patio on Neepawa will hopefully be licensed and open.
I order my usual Americano ($1.90) after briefly considering an Affogato ($5.40), but the wind blowing outside solidified my decision. I was pleased to find soy milk actually available at the milk and sugar station, since too few cafes offer it without customers having to ask. My drink has a nice, bold flavour--though a bit of a sour note on the finish--but, granted, the cafe (and baristas, likely) are still working out the kinks. Kinks or not, it seems Roncy is more than pleased to have its own new cafe.
Photos by Nick Warzin
Discussion
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Johnny states. Supporting certain businesses that a community likes is one thing but driving out one is just kind of creepy, especially when the street has Sobey's, Starbucks, Timothy's, banks and so on. I don't know that franchises are evil. In many ways they support people who want to have their own business by providing a formula that has been worked out to serve customers needs through trial, error, investment and years of work. Not everyone wants to risk losing their shirt building a business from scratch, and for those people franchises are a viable option. Assuming that Second Cup was a franchise, I can assume that someone bought that location in hopes of being part of a vibrant, diverse and welcoming neighbourhood, only to be driven out at great financial loss, which I find sad and not very Roncy-ish.
However, all that said, this new business seems like a positive addition and I wish them all the best. I love this neighbourhood and am proud to be a part of it.
Kevin is right that there are lots of great places to get coffee in the area, but it's also getting busier and I'm sure there's room for another place. The trick for any new business is carving our your niche and finding your client base. I'm sure we'll see Roncy's Bean settle in nicely and be another great place people can hang out on Roncy.
I can't wait to try this place and I'm happy to see such a cute place on a corner that was so uninspiring for so long. I'm sure I'll be a frequent customer.
Big Screen tv with CP24?
what a bunch of derps.
Time will tell if they're able to carve out their own identity on Roncy. The Second Cup was so poorly-managed and the staff treated so badly. At the least I hope Roncy's Bean are treating their staff better than their predecessor.
At some point, however, the managers allowed the upkeep to start deteriorating. They simply failed to keep their garbage in check, and the trash bins outside the cafe were literally overflowing, constantly. This was especially unpleasant during the summer and attracted rats--which were never a problem before.
I asked the management to clean up on several occasions as did a number of residents on Neepawa. When our requests were ignored, the Facebook campaign and letter writing began. Finally in 2009, Second Cup changed management of the place and the new manager made great strides to clean up. He confided to me that there was a lot more to clean up than just the trash bins outside. Trash problems subsided, yet, a few months later Second Cup closed up. From what I gathered from other shop owners on the block, I believe the reason Second Cup left had more to do with rent negotiations with the owner of the building than with the campaign, the letters, or the pending street construction. I'll say this: I haven't seen any rats since they left.
I welcome Roncy's Bean, and I'm sure they'll keep the place clean, like every other cafe on the strip. I stopped in today and they made me a good Americano and were super nice. I wish them well.
Funny how that old more-hippie-than-hipster neighbourhood standby, Alternative Grounds, hasn't been acknowledged yet...
I will follow any proper establishment that moves to Mississauga or Etobicoke. There are only a few decent places left, such as Bennas and Cafe Polonez. When the old school places are replaced with 'nouveau smoked meat/coffee hipster bistros', it's over for me.
Speaking for myself, one of the things that I love about this neighbourhood is that many of the businesses are owned and run by my neighbours. I would rather support them in their "kick at the can" than some big, faceless corporation. There is a definite sense of community here that is lacking in other areas.
Yes, Roncey already has a number of excellent cafes, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for a new kid on the block. I'm going to try it out. I will reserve judgment for the product and the service - not the decor. Don't judge a book by it's cover, you know?
Me? I'm leaving when Tru Value closes and is replaced with ANOTHER locavore-yuppie cafe that has the requisite exposed brick, barn board, and Edison bulbs (which are notably absent from Roncy's Bean).
It's just a coffee shop, not a Rob Ford football team.
At least the place is open and makes our village look good.
They also employed people and helping other local companies improve their business.
The negative feedback sounds more like people who fear their entry, and they should the place is amazing, clean and nice workers.
You will receive great support Roncy's Bean, your place Rocks.
JL
That Second Cup was my default option when every other shop on Ronce was closed or too full... the revolving cast of baristas was entertaining, if you have an open mind when it comes to music and piercings... was sorry to see it closed, but I doubt the boycott was responsible... at the time several Second Cup locations closed around the city.... nice to have another option, but please work on the pastries, almost as bad as Timothy's.....
way too hot in there as well, especially at the back near the fake fireplace... the coffee was acceptable quality...
Robyn and other reviewers, would it kill you to include opening and closing hours? Seems somewhat indispensable in any review.....
All the baked goods definitely look like they're from costco and the coffee wasnt good.
If I want pre packaged I'll go to Starbucks.
It's clear as day when people write things as you did either work at a different cafe or own one.
So be real with feedback. Be supportive to local business.
I welcome any shop that is clean, new and has wonderful staff like the girl who works at RONCY'S BEAN (in the picture above). If you don't like RONCYS, don't visit.....plenty of other people love it :)
ps. Note how every comment calling out negative commenters involves two short capitalized words with no space (i.e. RoncyFan, JavaLove, LavaLove, etc)
Super fast, and all of the people working there seem HAPPY as well as nice. I'd take a nice real estate agent as an employer over half the miserable people dissing other people's efforts here :)
Dang the haters. Enjoy life a little.
And may I suggest, have a decaf, and while you're at it, ponder why you did nothing for that space while someone else took all the risk......
Critics!
I can't find any contact info for these guys.
Thank you for being so amazingly nice and serving a wonderdful cup of coffee.
You're exactly what we needed in our area, a coffee shop with life.
Ron