World-renowned Japanese coffee brand, % Arabica is opening the doors of its first downtown Toronto location on Wednesday, July 26, in the city’s bustling Union Station. This will be the second Canadian location for % Arabica, following the opening of Yorkdale Shopping Centre in December 2022. Founded by Kenneth Shoji, % Arabica is an independent coffee brand from Kyoto, Japan with 155 stores globally. The opening of % Arabica at Union Station, Canada’s busiest multi-modal passenger transportation hub, will be located in the newly renovated area as a highly sought-after addition. % Arabica will elevate Torontonians travel by providing them with a premium coffee experience, through high-quality coffee and an ambiance that will encourage you to take a moment to enjoy your cup that is made from the world’s finest beans.
“After a successful first launch into the Canadian market last year at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, we are thrilled to bring our first Downtown Toronto location to the core of the city at Union Station ” says % Arabica partner. “We are proud to provide an enhanced coffee experience whether living in, arriving, or leaving the city, starting with the beautiful design of this location. When you step foot into the thoughtfully designed % Arabica, you’ll feel your coffee experience has been up-leveled with a space that allows you to enjoy the moment with the world’s best coffee.”
Designed in collaboration with Tacklebox Architecture under the leadership of Jeremy Barbour, the design is inspired by the geological and glacial formation of the surrounding landscape. Drawing inspiration from the layered beauty of glacial ice, folded rock, and the strata of the underlying bedrock, this space is defined by a floor-to-ceiling, faceted wall terrain. This monolithic surface is comprised of 172 faceted blocks that have been meticulously carved from 3,452 layers of stacked gypsum wall board– a ubiquitous building material commonly sourced in the region but used here in a unique and extraordinary way.
This crisp, white geometric surface is punctuated at intervals by 24 powder-coated steel niches that house bulk coffee bags and merchandise on display. A continuous white corian surface folds and carves space to form front and back service counters where visitors gather to receive % Arabica’s finest coffees sourced from around the globe.
% Arabica is more than coffee, it is a lifestyle experience focusing on design and simple pleasures, on a mission to invite people of all nationalities and throughout every country to ‘See the World Through Coffee’. The brand’s commitment to quality and love for coffee and design shines through its unique architecture and the one-of-a-kind coffee experience offered at each location.
On Wednesday, July 26, % Arabica officially opens its doors at Union Station, offering the first 50 customers an exclusive pastry item and the first 150 customers a limited edition cup designed by a local Canadian artist with purchase. The art will pay homage to Toronto’s renowned landscape that Union Station is located in the heart of. For more information, store hours, and more, please visit http://arabica.coffee.
