Honest to Pete is taking over the former JJ Bean ‘The Shack’ space, with breakfast sandwiches, patio plans and a new cider partnership on the horizon.

Downtown’s coffee lineup is about to get a new regular.

The new shop will introduce Honest to Pete to Vancouver’s downtown office crowd while expanding its menu with breakfast sandwiches, paninis and grab-and-go food alongside the roaster’s coffee, espresso drinks, tea and baked goods.

Honest to Pete is setting up in a space dubbed “The Shack,” which was the former home of JJ Bean at 740 Hamilton St.

“Crews are moving quickly but we are still working through permitting and inspections before opening,” says owner Peter Stannard. The team plans to open around mid-July, subject to final renovations and inspections.

“We’re going as fast as we can,” says Stannard. “We’re trying to get rid of all the JJ Bean red and putting our own stamp on it, moving our equipment in, then [Vancouver] Coastal Health comes in, checks it out, and then we’re open.”

Unlike Honest to Pete’s existing location in Mount Pleasant (2109 Alberta St.), the new downtown cafe will cater to commuters and office workers, a shift Stannard expects will bring a different pace of business.

Honest to Pete seeking patio permits

“We’ve been told JJ Bean used to have lineups running down the street,” he says. “It’s a different environment with all the office workers in the area.”

The new space will also allow Honest to Pete to expand its food offerings. It has a signature coffee program as well as house baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, lunch sandwiches, juices and quick bites for the customers who are in a rush.

In the future, the business is seeking patio permits and will be collaborating with a local cider company to host an afternoon and evening cider program on the plaza.

Stannard says the enthusiastic response on social media has helped fuel the team’s excitement.

“We appreciate all your support, and we just hope to get open as soon as we possibly can.”

A little extra for coffee lovers: If you’re not near either cafe, Honest to Pete’s ground coffee is now available at City Avenue Market on Commercial Drive. That’s the latest addition to the company’s growing wholesale network, bringing its coffee to 12 retailer locations across Metro Vancouver.

Dev Patel is a master’s student at UBC’s school of journalism and is a summer intern at Vancouver Is Awesome. You can reach him at [email protected].