Metro Vancouver cafe draws huge lines during opening weekend
Metro Vancouver has been waiting a long time for %Arabica to open its first brick-and-mortar location. With a Whistler location and numerous pop-ups in Vancouver, it’s obvious that Vancouverites and beyond have been itching to get their %Arabica coffee fix. The wait is officially over as the brand has officially launched its first location at CF Richmond Centre, and with it came long lines.
The new location has opened in the former spot of Starbucks (which has since moved to a new location in the mall), completely transforming the space into a white, minimalistic, almost cave-like coffee bar.
“Because Richmond has a west-coast maritime climate with long hours of sunlight, we created a space inspired by a Kamakura to form a symbolic storefront while softening the strong sunlight pouring through the galleria. (Kamakura: A domed snow hut traditionally built in snowy regions of Japan),” wrote %Arabica on its website.
“The gentle curve seamlessly connects both façades, welcoming guests from all directions and creating a smooth flow from ordering to pickup. It also enables natural communication between guests and baristas. Though compact, the space is minimalist and powerful. The iconic façade stands out within the mall and expresses %Arabica’s unique worldview.”
Marco Ovies/Dished
This location is a grab-and-go cafe, meaning there’s no seating (unless you venture upstairs into the food court).
%Arabica is an independent coffee brand best known for its high-quality coffee, as well as the elevated design of each of its storefronts. It serves a variety of drinks, including its Kyoto latte, matcha latte, espresso macchiato, and more.
We popped by the new location on Saturday for a quick visit to check out the store, and were met with a massive line.
It was obvious that %Arabica was expecting this, as a large portion in front of the cafe had been sectioned off to accommodate the line that looped back on itself.
Unfortunately, we had other plans, so we weren’t able to wait in line. That being said, if you want to visit %Arabica sooner rather than later, expect to wait a bit (especially during peak mall hours)
But don’t worry, it comes nowhere near the kind of lines we saw at the opening of Vancouver’s Hello Kitty Cafe.
- You might also like:
- Commercial Drive snack bar has quietly closed — here's the Vancouver restaurant replacing it
- 'We’re immensely proud': Vancouver chef Alex Kim places second on 'Top Chef Canada'
- Jeremy Allen White makes stop at 'Vancouver's best oyster bar'
%Arabica Richmond Centre is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
%Arabica — Richmond Centre
Address: Unit 1804, Level 1, 6551 Number 3 Rd., Richmond
Still hungry? Discover Dished Vancouver on TikTok