8th Stop on the Coffee Capital Tour!
Double Rainbow Café - Guelph, ON.
Welcome to the Double Rainbow Café!
If you haven’t heard already, please join me in welcoming Guelph’s newest coffee shop! Located just off of Ontario Street in the central borough of the city known as The Ward, the former mechanic shop is now a down-to-earth and homey retreat for many in the area.
How it started.
Kim, the owner of the café, began this new chapter after leaving behind her busy Toronto restaurant and relocating to Guelph a few short years ago.
The plan was to switch gears from the incredibly busy life of a restaurateur in a big city to focus on family her passion for community-focused initiatives.
With Guelph being as welcoming of a community as it gets, Kim and her family quickly settled in and things were going great.
What happened next.
As with so many people I’ve spoken with over the last year, the uncertainty and isolation that was brought upon by the COVID-19 Pandemic has encouraged many to reflect on themselves and think about what matters most in their lives.
Prior to opening Double Rainbow Café, Kim had taken on the position of ‘Community Food Lead’ at Guelph’s 10C Shared Space and was working out of the Nourish Kitchen at that location during the height of those difficult times.
She mentioned that, although the pandemic was tough on many community members, it was amazing to be in a position where their team was able to provide meals to those who were vulnerable and in need at the height of the Pandemic.
These commendable values shine brightly in the tiny café with it’s simple mission of supporting local food while providing an inclusive and inviting space for community members.
The shop becomes available and the rest is history.
Shortly after moving to the area, Kim quickly noticed this location and began keeping tabs on it. From there, she had her creative, entrepreneurial sights set on building something new. Her vision was to turn the rugged mechanic shop into an inviting, quiet café. This turned out to be no easy feat.
The opening of the café ended up being over a year and a half in the making, with Kim handling a lot of the work to convert the space and add her own touches.
Despite a quiet, relaxed approach and a soft opening back in September, word of the shop has quickly spread across the city. Many of the coffee people I’ve met throughout the tour insisted that I add this spot to the list and head over for a visit!
The cafe features some amazing local eats from Fleetstreets, a rising local Bakery here in Guelph, and is currently pouring premium roasts from Hamilton-based Detour Coffee. You’ll also find other local features including some amazing baking mixes from Well Baked and a variety of other local items and artwork.
If you’re in the area, make sure you stop by and check this place out!
