Second Cup to continue makeover of its Toronto cafes

Last December, Second Cup surprised passers-by with a snazzy new store at King and John. Gone were the dark countertops and flavoured drip coffee; instead, exposed brick, white marble and a sci-fi-esque steampunk brewer greeted customers.

According to a Canadian Press report, the company's second quarter sales were still down 4.6 percent in comparison to last year. However, Second Cup says its new King West cafe is "continuing to exceed expectations."

Recently, Second Cup revamped its Eaton Centre location (it's right by the entrance to Dundas Station). It also opened a "cafe of the future" in Montreal. These upscale and easily Instagrammable stores are certainly pretty, and it'll be interesting to see whether they can keep Second Cup afloat in a competitive coffee market.

What do you think of Second Cup's makeover? Let us know in the comments.